Sammamish Community YMCA Aquatics Center Improvements

Last updated: April 29, 2024, at 10:25 a.m. PT

Originally published: August 7, 2023, at 5:00 a.m. PT

sammamish aquatics center

The YMCA of Greater Seattle and City of Sammamish are improving your Sammamish Community YMCA Aquatics Center. Improvements include new tile and deep cleaning in both pools and all locker rooms. These improvements are scheduled to take place from October 2023 to July 2024. We expect one pool and one set of locker rooms to remain open at all times. 

April 29, 2024 Update

The Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room are now fully open! Thank you for your patience. We hope you enjoy the updated and refreshed spaces.  

The Lap Pool and Private Changing Rooms are closed through July for improvements. Check out Phase 2 information below for pool temperatures, locker room tips, and membership options. 

If your membership is on hold and you are ready to return, please complete the Membership Hold Form and select “End current hold.” Thank you for your continued support as a member of the Y. 

Member Appreciation 
Wednesday, May 1 to Saturday, May 4

Visit us each day for a special treat, including flavored water, grab-and-go snacks, and a prize wheel.

Splash the Night Away
Friday, May 17, from 5:00-8:00 pm

Join us in the newly refreshed Activity Pool for fun on the slide and with our water features. We'll also have fun on land with our bounce houses, arts and crafts, and more in the gym. Grab-and-go snacks will be available for everyone. 


What to Expect 

Phase 1 | November 2023 to May 2024

Open: Lap Pool and Private Changing Rooms  

Closed: Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room 

  • The Lap Pool temperature will increase from 79-82 degrees to 83-85 degrees to accommodate recreational swimmers.  
  • Swim lessons and recreational swim will take place in the Lap Pool. Platforms will be in the pool to create a consistent swim lesson experience for our youngest swimmers. Estimated water depth with the platforms will be two to three feet, consistent with the Activity Pool depth. 
  • Private swim lessons will be offered as beginner lessons only. Beginner means the swimmer will be working in a smaller space and will not accommodate lap swimming or endurance swimming skills. Lap swimming will be reduced to create space for swim lessons and recreational swim. 
  • Big Splash (Pool) Parties will not be offered during this time. Learn more about our other Birthday Party offerings >
  • The Y is America’s Swim Instructor and the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming. Learn more about why swim lessons are essential to our community >  

Come Prepared: The Private Changing Rooms are unlikely to accommodate the volume of members in the Lap Pool during Phase 1. Please come prepared with towels, robes, or clothing to stay warm while waiting for a changing room, or plan to skip the use of the changing room during this phase. 

 

Phase 2 | May to July 2024

Open: Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room 

Closed: Lap Pool and Private Changing Rooms 

  • The Activity Pool temperature will remain at 83-85 degrees.  
  • All scheduled activities in the Activity Pool will operate as normal. Schedules will be available online > 
  • Lap swimming will not be available in the Activity Pool during this time. See more about YMCA Membership offerings and options below. 

Come Prepared: The Men’s and Women's Locker Rooms are gender-specific and do not allow private space for families with youth ages 6 and older and/or caregivers to use together. Please review the Locker Room Age Guidelines below to understand how best to use these locker rooms during Phase 2. If this does not align with your needs, please skip using the locker room during this phase or view YMCA Membership information below. 

 

Locker Room Age Guidelines 

  • Youth ages 5 and younger may use the same locker room as their Supervising Individual regardless of gender. 
  • Youth ages 6 to 9 should use the same locker room of their gender identity with Supervising Individual present. 
  • Youth ages 10 and older should use the locker room of their gender identity.  
  • Report any issues directly to a Y staff member. 

View all Locker Room Rules > 

 

How to Receive Updates 

  • Follow us on Facebook for regular videos from our Aquatics Staff with updates on the project.  
  • Bookmark the Sammamish Community YMCA website and visit regularly to see updates. 
  • Check in with our membership staff at the front desk to make sure your email address on file is updated. We’ll send regular email updates with reminders about what’s open and closed as we progress through each phase.  
  • Download the YMCA of Greater Seattle YMCA360 Mobile App for push notifications with progress updates. 

 

Nearby YMCA Pools 

Your YMCA of Greater Seattle membership grants you unlimited access to all 14 local Ys, including 11 aquatics centers. Browse nearby locations and check out pool schedules of a Y near you.  

 

YMCA Membership 

We understand these updates may disrupt your regular routine at the Y. Here are alternatives to swimming that are included in your Y membership: 

  • Kids Zone is a drop-in care program for ages 6 weeks to 13 years old that allows adults to focus on pursuing their Whole Person Health goals at the Y, while their kids are engaging in a fun, safe, and caring environment. Kids Zone is included in Family memberships. Find hours > 
  • Family Nights and Family Events offer unique experiences for families to spend time together at little to no cost. Find a family event > 
  • Parents' Day & Night Out is an opportunity to leave your kids with the Y for a fun-filled night of arts and crafts, active play, and group games while you hit the town or catch up on things at home. Find a time > 
  • Recreational and community swim is available during both phases of the aquatics center project. The Lap Pool temperature will be reset to accommodate children and families while the Activity Pool is closed. Find recreational swim times > 

If you prefer to place your membership on hold during the improvements, Sammamish Community YMCA members are offered a complimentary hold for the duration of the improvements. Members will not be charged during their hold time and the membership will be automatically activated when improvements are completed.

How to Place your Membership on Hold

  • Go to Membership Hold Form >
  • Enter Member Information 
  • Select Home Branch – Sammamish Community YMCA 
  • Select Membership Hold Request – Hold during Sammamish pool improvements
  • Click SUBMIT HOLD REQUEST 

Membership Hold Terms and Conditions

 

Terms and Conditions 

  • Except as noted below, Membership Hold Policy and Definitions apply.
  • Draft Date: A draft date is the date membership dues are charged to the member’s payment method. Draft dates are typically the day the member first joined the Y.
  • To qualify for the temporary membership hold, a hold form must be submitted 14 days prior to your draft date.
  • If the hold request is submitted within 14 days of your draft date, the hold will be effective the following month.
  • The $5 monthly service fee is waived and the three-month time limit on membership holds is suspended for the duration of the Sammamish Aquatics Improvements.  
  • Your membership will resume on your first draft date after the Sammamish Aquatics Center reopens. You will receive notice via your email address on file a minimum of 30 days prior to your first draft date following completion of the Sammamish Aquatics Improvements. 
  • To update your email address on file, visit How to Update Contact Information >

 

Frequently Asked Questions 

General 

What are the exact dates? 

The construction timeline will change throughout the project. We will update our dates as the project progresses. 

  • November 2023 to May 2024: Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room closed
  • May to July 2024: Lap Pool and Private Changing rooms closed

 

How does this affect my programs? 

All programs currently accommodate the aquatics center improvement plan. Swim lessons, recreational swim, Aqua Fitness, and community swim are taking place in the Lap Pool while the Activity Pool is closed. Water Walking will be available in the Lap Pool as lane space allows. Big Splash (Pool) Parties will not be offered during this time, however, we will continue to offer Zany Zone and Game On! Parties. Learn more about our other Birthday Party offerings. Please review Phase 1 information above for important details.  

 

Locker Rooms 

Which locker room can I use?  

One set of locker rooms will remain open during each phase of the project. Locker room space will be limited throughout this project. Details: 

Phase 1 

  • Open: Lap Pool and Private Changing Rooms
  • Closed: Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room 
  • Come Prepared: The Private Changing Rooms are unlikely to accommodate the volume of members in the Lap Pool during Phase 1. Please come prepared with towels, robes, or clothing to stay warm while waiting for a changing room, or plan to skip the use of the changing room during this phase. 

Phase 2 

  • Open: Activity Pool, Hot Tub, Men’s Locker Room, and Women’s Locker Room 
  • Closed: Lap Pool and Private Changing Rooms
  • Come Prepared: The Men’s and Women's Locker Rooms are gender-specific and do not allow private space for families with youth ages 6 and older and/or caregivers to use together. Please review the Locker Room Age Guidelines below to understand how best to use these locker rooms during Phase 2. If this does not align with your needs, please skip using the locker room during this phase or view YMCA Membership information below. 

Locker Room Age Guidelines 

  • Youth ages 5 and younger may use the same locker room as their Supervising Individual regardless of gender. 
  • Youth ages 6 to 9 should use the same locker room consistent with their gender identity with Supervising Individual present. 
  • Youth ages 10 and older should use the locker room consistent with their gender identity.  
  • Report any issues directly to a Y staff member. 
  • View all Locker Room Rules > 

 

Swim lessons 

Are you still offering swim lessons? 

All programs currently accommodate the aquatics center improvement plan. Swim lessons, recreational swim, and community swim are taking place in the Lap Pool while the Activity Pool is closed. Please review Phase 1 information above for important details. 

Where will the lessons take place? 

Swim lessons will take place in the Lap Pool during Phase 1 when the Activity Pool is closed.  

The Lap Pool temperature will increase from 79-82 degrees to 83-85 degrees to accommodate recreational swimmers.   

What if my kid can’t touch the bottom of the Lap Pool during swim lessons? 

Swim lessons and recreational swim will take place in the Lap Pool. Platforms will be in the pool to create a consistent swim lesson experience for our youngest swimmers. Estimated water depth with the platforms will be two to three feet, consistent with the Activity Pool depth. 

What are “beginner” private swim lessons? 

Private swim lessons will be offered as beginner lessons only. Beginner means the swimmer will be working in a smaller space and will not accommodate lap swimming or endurance swimming skills. 

 

Recreational Swim, Community Swim, and Lap Swim 

Is community swim available during the improvements? 

Yes. As a partner with the City of Sammamish, we are committed to offering community swim throughout the improvement project.  

Will lap swim be available in the Lap Pool while swim lessons and recreational swim are also taking place in the Lap Pool? 

Yes. We are reserving lanes for lap swimming as much as possible. Lap swimming availability will be reduced to offer swim lessons, recreational swim, and community swim.  

The Y is America’s Swim Instructor and the most accessible community resource to prevent drowning and encourage a lifelong enjoyment of swimming. Learn more about why swim lessons are essential to our community > 

 

Membership 

Will I get a reduced membership rate?  

No. The Y’s cancellation and refund policy states that membership dues are only prorated during full facility closures of nine days or longer. The Y is committed to keeping one set of locker rooms and one pool open during this project. As a part of your YGS membership, our members have access to all King County YMCA locations.  

Can I cancel or hold my membership? 

Yes. Sammamish Community YMCA members may place a membership on a complimentary hold for the duration of the improvement project. Please review YMCA Membership information above for instructions to place your membership on hold. 

Before placing your membership on hold, please review the YMCA Membership information above to find activities throughout the Y included in your Y membership.  

 

Category: Membership