Swim Center in Vancouver or Camas areas? (Lake Shore: 2015, health insurance)

[CosmoPoppy]

We had been looking at NW Salem area to move but now are considering Vancouver or Camas area. We are Seniors and the primary thing on our list for my health is being able to Swim everyday. Are there any Community Pools or Clubs that are open year around for Swimming? Thanks, Sandra

[Jane917]

We belong to Lakeshore Athletic Club in west Vancouver. They have an indoor and outdoor pool. Our health insurance covers our monthly dues.

[texasdiver]

There is a private swim club in Camas that has year-round swimming: Lacamas Athletic Club – Make Fitness A Habit

There are a variety of options scattered around Vancouver. And some of the athletic clubs like 24 hour fitness have lap pools.

[StealthRabbit]

Lap Swimming is a tragic lack in SW WA. (Not that I haven't tried to get them built for the last 37 yrs...)

There are NO 50m pools I know off, except in Oregon at Mt Hood College (Portland east side) and Tualatin (west and south). I used to drive to Hood River, OR to swim...(daily)

Most options in SWWA are Private, but dinky pools (25m at most)

Both the YMCA and Vancouver recreation have 'splash pools' (for kids,) with a couple lap lanes occasionally for adults (250,000 population in SWWA)

Propstra is another dinky pool, largely controlled by Vancouver School district (very limited hours and often preempted by school activities, currently closed for maint). Propstra Aquatic Center – Vancouver Public Schools

Jim Parsley Community Center – Jim Parsley Community Center, aquatics and recreation
https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/swimming


private:
Aquatics | Lake Shore Athletic Club
Lacamas Athletic Club – Make Fitness A Habit

Gone are my (4) options (under $1) at my previous location (Colorado) population 30,000

Ironically, Colorado did national community training sessions to train for funding and building senior / swim / community centers. I brought the details and offered to fund the development leaders in SWWA to attend... no avail. Went to school districts, no avail / interest. Helped convince my SWWA employer to donate land to Vancouver / YMCA to build community pool / fitness / senior center (@192nd and SE 7th)- local private clubs went ballistic, filed suit and company had to withdraw the 'free land'...(circa 1985). so 30 yrs later... little progress. Sad for swimmers.

Privates are so dinky / inefficient...(and VERY stressful socially for assertive / frequent lap swimmers) Some facilities only have 3-4 lanes! matching speeds / sharing lanes can be a real burden. (especially during those times you are in rehab / tired / & might be a little slower that the usual 1.6m/sec swim rate) SWWA / PNW swimmers are NOT very 'friendly' / forgiving ... because of their limited time / availability of pools. You can't keep up... get outta the way (preferably GET OUT!).

Beaverton / Mt Hood 50 m pools are a bit more forgiving (during off hours)

Like to swim? NZ and Australia have wonderful community swim centers. I looked into the details and one center in a NZ town similar size to Vancouver serves 3500 - 5000 people / day! (more during the summer season). They had 24 lanes of 50m pool !!! NZ (and AU) is a great place for PNW retirees (medical / swimming / rain refugees) from Oct - March! You can book air NZ flight out of LAX and get a FREE stopover in Cook Islands! (You need to cap NZ @ 89 days to keep on tourist status (you need on outbound flight to be accepted on arrival). ) Tad expensive and far... but the 80 F days + 5AM sunrises and 10 pm Sunsets and abundant wildflowers in Dec and Jan make it worth the trip. We 'freedom camp', so lodging is CHEAP (free), but food cost !!!.... Eat before you go, and go on a severe weight reduction routine while there!!

If you are a USA medical refugee, you might want to consider living outside the USA anyway. (as with us...you may have no choice but to leave USA!)

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

Lap Swimming is a tragic lack in SW WA. (Not that I haven't tried to get them built for the last 37 yrs...)

There are NO 50m pools I know off, except in Oregon at Mt Hood College (Portland east side) and Tualatin (west and south). I used to drive to Hood River, OR to swim...(daily)

Most options in SWWA are Private, but dinky pools (25m at most)

Both the YMCA and Vancouver recreation have 'splash pools' (for kids,) with a couple lap lanes occasionally for adults (250,000 population in SWWA)

Propstra is another dinky pool, largely controlled by Vancouver School district (very limited hours and often preempted by school activities, currently closed for maint). Propstra Aquatic Center – Vancouver Public Schools

Jim Parsley Community Center – Jim Parsley Community Center, aquatics and recreation
https://www.clark.wa.gov/public-works/swimming


private:
Aquatics | Lake Shore Athletic Club
Lacamas Athletic Club – Make Fitness A Habit

Gone are my (4) options (under $1) at my previous location (Colorado) population 30,000

Ironically, Colorado did national community training sessions to train for funding and building senior / swim / community centers. I brought the details and offered to fund the development leaders in SWWA to attend... no avail. Went to school districts, no avail / interest. Helped convince my SWWA employer to donate land to Vancouver / YMCA to build community pool / fitness / senior center (@192nd and SE 7th)- local private clubs went ballistic, filed suit and company had to withdraw the 'free land'...(circa 1985). so 30 yrs later... little progress. Sad for swimmers.

Privates are so dinky / inefficient...(and VERY stressful socially for assertive / frequent lap swimmers) Some facilities only have 3-4 lanes! matching speeds / sharing lanes can be a real burden. (especially during those times you are in rehab / tired / & might be a little slower that the usual 1.6m/sec swim rate) SWWA / PNW swimmers are NOT very 'friendly' / forgiving ... because of their limited time / availability of pools. You can't keep up... get outta the way (preferably GET OUT!).

Beaverton / Mt Hood 50 m pools are a bit more forgiving (during off hours)

Wow, that's a pretty sad state of affairs for Vancouver/Camas swimmers & families. Those 3-4 lane tiny lap pools look really anemic/pathetic. I hate when trying to swim laps and the lanes get that crowded - splitting, pacing, etc... It takes the enjoyment out of it. I really don't get it. It sounds like the citizens of Vancouver were robbed when that deal fell through you proposed with the free land. Too much politics it sounds like combined with a monopoly of sue happy privates.

I guess that's another point on the scoreboard for little old Corvallis. That small town has a public 8 lane Olympic sized swimming pool - see below! Then there is the OSU pool as well.




While living in CO we enjoyed many great pools including large YMCA pools. Lots more of them there and affordable to boot.

Derek

[MtnSurfer]

I just looked up Mt. Hood college and that pools looks pretty fantastic though more of a drive depending on location in Vancouver/Camas.






Marshall Community Center Pool in Vancouver may be the best option on the WA side:





Derek

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

I just looked up Mt. Hood college and that pools looks pretty fantastic though more of a drive depending on location in Vancouver/Camas.






Marshall Community Center Pool in Vancouver may be the best option on the WA side:





Derek

Marshall has a serious 'Pecking Order'... the usually swimmers who will make sure your experience is a miserable as they can make it... "trying to swim laps and the lanes get that crowded - splitting, pacing, etc..."

I think the Marshall users OWN it... and they have the unwavering support of Marshall 'staff'.

We used to have Memory Pool (behind old library 3 blocks away from Marshall) built for WWI troop training ... strange thing happened... the City found Asbestos in ceiling and the SWIMMING POOL burnt to the ground less than a month later (never replaced), but the vacant lot is still there (30+ yrs later)

If you like to swim (economically) and you prefer a 50m pool... you will not find a solution in SWWA.

I enjoy Corvallis pool, but last I was there it was pretty 'aged' / dark. Mt Hood and Tualatin is much better. NZ better yet, especially during USA winter! IIRC, McMinnville has a nice community pool. (and is a very nice community)

[USDefault]

You'll be in good company at Lacamas Athletic Club. They have a large "outdoor" lap/lane pool that is separate from the gym and is "enclosed" in a heavily-windowed structure. They have a second indoor lap/lane pool, thought it may be used mostly by younger kids. Lots of older people use it when there's no swim lessons, so you'll be in good company here. It absolutely is opened year-round, people are in the water when it's 35 degrees outside.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by USDefault

You'll be in good company at Lacamas Athletic Club. They have a large "outdoor" lap/lane pool that is separate from the gym and is "enclosed" in a heavily-windowed structure. They have a second indoor lap/lane pool, thought it may be used mostly by younger kids. Lots of older people use it when there's no swim lessons, so you'll be in good company here. It absolutely is opened year-round, people are in the water when it's 35 degrees outside.

but... dinky pools (no 50m), and $3/ day if you use it or not + intro fee. (more than my entire grocery budget)

In SWWA, you need to pay-to-play. Seems reasonable for those employed / well heeled. (and who don't mind crowded pools, as there are few)

I'm retired for over 12 yrs, so income = zero (not near SS age yet).
My $43/day in WA property taxes does not fund pools (at it did in my previous home state).

Just a 'new perspective' on 'WA economics' - must (taxes) vs wants (recreation). Too bad, since recreation might benefit HealthCare spending (which HC coverage is no longer a USA option, until post age 65)

Simple math.
If you like to lap swim (recreationally)
SWWA is limited.

If you are a fast swimmer and can afford private options, there are (3-4) additional choices (for 250,000 population)