In a region defined by water — where ferries crisscross the Sound and rain fills our lakes and rivers — it’s surprisingly hard to find a place for kids to swim. The beaches are cold, private lessons cost a fortune, and municipal pools are few and far between. But tucked into Eastside neighborhoods, the Midlakes pools quietly keep a summer tradition afloat.
Twenty-six pools scattered from Kirkland to Renton make up the Midlakes Swim League, which organizes competitions in swimming, diving and water polo. Some of the pools are managed by country clubs or homeowners’ associations, with restricted access to membership. But membership to many Midlakes pools is open to anyone. These community pools have provided families with summer fun while quietly shaping generations of kids who learned to swim, joined competitive teams and even gained work experience as lifeguards or teachers at their neighborhood pool.
Pools play an important role in our communities
Many of the pools were built in the 1960s, when civic and community engagement was much higher than it is today. Studies show a 25 percent to 50 percent decline in traditional club and organization membership since the 1960s. That cultural shift, combined with post-COVID changes, rising costs, aging infrastructure and reduced visibility are all challenges faced by these pools, which are run by volunteer boards and supported exclusively by membership fees. But for families in the know, community pools provide both good value and something priceless — a noncommercial third place where friendships and life skills can grow.
Although they are community-based, the pools still must meet Department of Health standards, and all water programs coaches must be lifeguard and CPR certified by Red Cross. With a few exceptions, Midlakes pools are only open seasonally — an intentional choice to keep the pools fun and low-pressure in an era of hypercompetitive kids sports.
“We were looking for something that we didn't have to join year-round back in 2013. I have three kids that are doing lots of different sports. We didn't want to have to do this four times a week and pay fees every month. We wanted, when it's sunny and nice in the summer, to teach our kids some sport and have some playtime, some unstructured time, that is the niche of summer,” says Erin Fields, parent swim team liaison at Phantom Lake Club and also vice president of their board.
All the pools are heated and most of them are outdoors, although some have a bubble — a temporary structure that covers pools and tennis courts. Several have tennis courts, and some offer so many amenities and programs they essentially serve as community centers. With so many variations among them, it’s impossible to describe a typical Midlakes pool. But there are about half a dozen classic, open-membership community pools, of which Phantom Lake Club is a good example. Opened in 1960, it is still managed by a board that is responsive to the membership’s programming requests. Phantom Lake used to close after Labor Day.
“We had some members come to us and say, ‘We want one of our coaches to teach a fall weekend program for six or eight weeks.’ They made this proposal and brought it to the board. And the board said that sounds like a great idea and it was piloted,” says Claudia Stern, club manager at Phantom Lake. Now the pool is open from mid-May through September.
During their season, Phantom Lake offers adult swim, open swim, competitive youth teams (ages 4–18) in swimming, diving and water polo, and swimming lessons for adults and kids (membership is not required for lessons). The club owns more than four acres in East Bellevue, which it utilizes fully.
Designing the ultimate ‘backyard’
“We have a lot of community events. The goal was to make an ultimate backyard that’s available to every single one of our members. We have gazebos that you can use to host your book club or just have a family dinner or a party. We built a bocce ball court, and we have a bocce ball league. We have table tennis, we have cornhole, we have a giant checkers. This is an unstructured space to bring back play. This is for everyone to go down and use and just have fun,” says Stern.
If the year-round club teams of the Olympic Cascade Aquatics league are analogous to soccer’s select or premier leagues, Midlakes is designed to be the rec league for swimmers, emphasizing confidence and fun over elite competition.
“Summer swim — you know I can only speak for Phantom — is not built to be uber competitive. It’s built to foster longtime love of swimming,” says Fields.
Stern agrees, “Over the years, I’ve seen sports programs get more intensive. The season stretches so that seasons overlap. We are asking our kids to do more activities, more homework. Kids, like adults, are just getting busier, but this is a place you don't have to try out, you can just register. You have to be able to safely get across the pool to compete and the rest we’ll teach you. A lot of pools still do tryouts and that’s another stress for these busy kids. This is a place where you can have fun. That’s our number one priority so you can learn to love this sport and make friends.”
Water polo is coed, and boys and girls train together at most of the pools, including Phantom Lake, although swimming and diving competitions are age- and gender-segregated.
Stern adds, “I’ve raised three kids that are all adults now, and they were very athletic. This is where my kids learned true sportsmanship. My kids learned that celebrating someone else’s accomplishments doesn’t detract from your own.”
Stern shared the story of her youngest daughter, who competed against her best friend in swimming: “They were always kind of neck and neck. One race, one would win, the next time, the other would. They would swim their hardest and then they would get out of the pool and say, ‘Let’s go get a snack and play cards.’ That is a hugely valuable lesson to know as a human being.”
The swim teams also have a buddy program that pairs younger swimmers with more experienced ones.
“When my daughter was 8, she was paired with a senior in high school, and they are still in touch,” says Stern.
Aiming for longevity with families
Every pool has its own fee structure, but as a not-for-profit supported by membership fees, Phantom Lake is representative, with annual memberships for individuals ($530), couples ($690) and families ($850). There is a $200 initiation fee for the first season. Lessons are discounted for members.
“We want you to stay connected to this pool by choice from when you are a baby to when you’re an adult. Our head coach grew up at the pool. Now she’s in her thirties and teaching here. Our dive liaison not only grew up at Phantom Lake, but she was the dive coach and is now a member of our board. And her children are here. It’s this full circle,” says Stern.
But fewer new families are joining the league these days.
“Busyness seems to be pushing these community pools to the wayside, because soccer and other things are going to dominate. But there’s a huge importance in being able to swim. This is a lifelong skill that everyone should have access to. And these communities are offering such an amazing value. We can be that safe space for you to learn a life skill and just slow down a little bit. Swim team is very fun. But also come to the pool on Friday night with your dinner and just connect with family. That is just as valuable,” says Fields.
Families can find their nearest pool and learn more about the individual pools through the Midlakes League website. They can sign up just for swim lessons or try a summer membership for full access to their pool’s programs. The Midlakes League competitive season started May 18, but it’s never too late to join in the fun.
“We’re working so hard to create the place where you can make friends whether you’re 4or you’re 40,” says Fields.
