A proposed aquatic facility for South Whidbey just received the first piece of its funding.

The proposed pool was recently awarded a $400,000 grant as an alternative finance project listed in the supplemental state capital budget. The wellness center, which will be owned and operated by the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District, is one of 11 projects in the 10th Legislative District to be included.

Rep. Dave Paul, D-Oak Harbor, was the prime sponsor for the funding request.

“They’ve done a very good job about being proactive and bringing legislators down, systematically preparing for this supplemental session,” Paul said.

Sen. Ron Muzzall, R-Oak Harbor, and Rep. Greg Gilday, R-Camano, are also supportive of the project. All three legislators have toured the site of the future pool, which is located on land owned by the South Whidbey Parks and Recreation District.

“They’ve got a great group of people that are involved and I think it has potential,” Muzzall said.

Matt Simms, a commissioner for the parks and rec board, said the funds will go toward initial designs of the pool but likely won’t cover all planning. By law, a certain percentage of funding must be spent on design costs.

“We are indebted to them for their support,” he said of the local representatives.

During a meeting on Wednesday night, Simms and his fellow parks commissioners discussed the possibility of floating a bond measure before voters.

A recent feasibility study roughly estimated the total cost of the facility to be $17-$19 million.

Commissioners were not supportive of having a bond on the ballot this year, citing concerns about voter fatigue and acting too hastily.

The pool committee – which is composed of two parks commissioners, members of the South Whidbey Parks and Aquatics Foundation board and members of the public – convened on Thursday and agreed to offer a recommendation to the parks and rec district about waiting until 2023 to try to pass a bond.

Simms said that in the meantime, other sources of funding will be sought for the project. The parks district has already applied for $5 million in the 2023 state capital budget.

Paul added that the parks district could also apply for competitive grant programs, such as the Building Communities Fund and the Youth Recreational Facilities program.