North Seattle might get new swimming pool for students, neighbors

A new indoor swimming pool may be coming to North Seattle.

North Seattle College and the YMCA of Greater Seattle have signed a letter of intent to explore building a pool together on the college's campus.

The idea would be to add an aquatics center to the college's existing fitness center and operate the combined facilities through a shared-use model" that could prioritize student access while also welcoming community members, the college and the Y announced this week.

"This is exciting," said Kristen Burton, North Seattle College's vice president of administrative services. It could benefit the college's students and staff, Burton said Friday, while opening the campus to neighbors in a new way.

"North Seattle College and the Y both prioritize inclusive environments, access and affordability, so our missions line up, Burton added.

Indoor swimming options are limited in Seattle, so lap time can be hard to come by and lessons for kids can fill up fast. The city operates eight indoor, public pools, although two are currently closed for repairs, and the YMCA operates three, in the Central District, West Seattle and downtown.

Meanwhile, the city is growing, especially in neighborhoods like Northgate, where North Seattle College is located. Light rail arrived in 2021 and the Northgate shopping mall is under redevelopment; the sprawling mall has sprouted apartment buildings, hotels and an ice hockey complex.

North Seattle College and the YMCA will collect feedback and perform due diligence work. They say they could bring a joint recommendation to their boards later this year. Their letter of intent is non-binding and they haven't shared a cost estimate for the potential project.

Seattle's community colleges, such as North Seattle College, have been struggling with budget pressures amid state cuts and other challenges.

North Seattle College wouldn't be the first educational institution to partner with the Y. The University of Washington's Tacoma campus and the local YMCA collaborated to build and operate a recreational and fitness center that opened in 2015.

Last year, Seattle officials rolled out a proposal for a new aquatics center in Green Lake Park to replace the park's existing indoor pool. Some swimming enthusiasts have lobbied City Hall to go bigger with that plan.

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This story was originally published May 1, 2026 at 4:52 PM.