Our Story:

 In Sept. 2009, Badger Middle School pool was closed and demolished due to budget constraints and building limitations. The loss reduced School District pool hours by 41%. A month later, our community was told that due to reduced state funding and budget cuts, the West Bend High School Aquatics Facility was being considered for closing as well.

Since the 1970s, thousands of families have shared recreation and sports event memories in these facilities. When the WBHS pool opened in 1977, our population was 16,500. Today, while our population has eclipsed 30,000 and the need never greater, we are now facing the elimination of the last District aquatics facility that supports what is called by physicians and health experts worldwide as the #1 lifetime sport and wellness activity. This facility is the last public pool in the entire county. There would be significant community impact if the aquatics facility closes:

The High School Swim Teams, Dolphins, & West Bend Swim Club will cease to exist

Hundreds of kids who have chosen swimming will seek other communities to participate in this sport. Families committed to swimming will leave our city.  

Special Olympics, scouting & lifeguard aquatics programs will be greatly limited if not closed.

Physical Education programs will cease teaching swimming as a lifetime skill, while drownings in our region and state continue to climb.

Another athletic/wellness activity will end, leading to even more kids spending time on sedentary past times like video games.

An increasing number of community children will never learn to swim

The year-round 2,000+ hours of pool use by thousands of West Bend residents far exceeds other district sports activities. Where will these people go for their wellness activities?

Closing the pool almost assures we'd need to spend $4mm+ in the future to open a new facility. Why close what we already have?

WB Schools Need Pools is a group of concerned citizens who are in support of retaining the West Bend Aquatics Center and keeping swimming as an important part of the wellness and athletic offerings in our community. We are currently working with many sources in the School District and community to assure this facility remains the vital community asset it is today.

Our Mission Statement:

To Assure the Viability & Retention of the West Bend Community Aquatics Center While Making the Facility More Energy Efficient

The School Board has approved our efforts and is now committed to:

• Supporting our efforts to secure private donations and corporate sponsorships to sustain the pool through the year 2027. 
• Completing the energy saving heating and lighting projects (at no cost to tax payers) which will save 30-40% in operational cost.

We Respectfully Ask the Community to:

• Support our committee's efforts through your donations and corporate sponsorships
• Stand up and be heard that we will not allow the final District aquatics facility to be closed
• Sign Our testimonial page to support the effort

DON'T LET AQUATICS GO DOWN THE DRAIN!