Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center Marks 35 Years of Operation

The Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, Washington, celebrated its 35th anniversary on October 28. The facility, which opened in 1991, has become a central hub for competitive swimming and public recreation in the Pacific Northwest.

Mike Dunwiddie, who has managed the center since its inception, was honored during a ceremony attended by local and county elected officials. Federal Way Mayor Jim Farrell thanked Dunwiddie for his leadership, noting that the site has served as a gathering place for the 103,000 residents of Federal Way. Dunwiddie credited the Weyerhaeuser family for selecting the location, describing the facility's history as an incredible ride.

King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer hosted the event, leveraging his long-standing connection to the Weyerhaeuser family. County Executive Girmay Zahilay spoke about the center's value as a place to teach children critical survival skills. Zahilay described the aquatic center as a world-class asset for Washington state and the nation. He also confirmed that the King County Parks levy will provide ongoing funding for modernization and improvements to the facility.

The center was originally designed with television broadcasting in mind. Dunwiddie worked closely with media mogul Ted Turner to prepare the site for the 1990 Goodwill Games. This collaboration resulted in under-pool windows, camera wells, and a high-level catwalk. Dunwiddie noted that television crews can still plug into the facility's infrastructure without significant setup time.

Over its 35-year history, the aquatic center has hosted numerous high-profile events. These include the United States Olympic Team dive trials in 2000 and 2012, the National Disability Championships in 2002, and the Special Olympics USA Games in 2018. Last year, the facility hosted the Big 12 Championships as well as the NCAA Men's and Women's National Championships. The WIAA state swim meets and local high school competitions are held there annually.

Beyond elite competitions, the center has taught more than one million swim lessons. King County Councilmember Steffanie Fain highlighted the facility's role in youth development, noting that her husband Joe has coached swim there. She stated that the facility gives children hope and a desire to excel. Dunwiddie recalled a specific memory from the US National synchronized swimming team visit, where they released balloons and raised a borrowed flag from the Kingdome.

Financially, the aquatic center has generated $7.5 million in annual sales revenue since opening. Project developer Dave Sabey attended the celebration to mark the milestone. Von Reichbauer noted that Sabey and his family accepted a financial loss to ensure the facility met NCAA seating standards. Dunwiddie said the facility would not have reached its current elite status without Sabey's involvement.

Dunwiddie mentioned that an international swimming event is scheduled for next year, though he did not specify the name of the competition. He encouraged the community to mark their calendars for the upcoming occasion. The center continues to operate as a county facility with strong support from the city of Federal Way.