GNWFCU team members alongside P.O.O.L. Board Members

Great NorthWest Federal Credit Union, with a grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) was able to provide a $50,000 donation to the Dr. O.R. Nevitt Memorial Pool.

Kari Adams, Executive VP of Great NorthWest FCU, grew up in Pacific County and is a huge advocate for the pool. It was at her direction that the credit union was guided to apply for the grant with the FHLB. Kari said, “Growing up in Pacific County, I recognize how lucky we are to be surrounded by our scenic waterways. Learning to swim is a little rite of passage for so many of us. Without the access provided by a community pool like this, so many children would be unable to participate. We are very fortunate that the City of Raymond recognizes this and took the pool on. Great NorthWest FCU is so happy to be able to help support this wonderful, local institution.”

Located in the heart of downtown Raymond, the Dr. O.R. Nevitt Memorial Pool is the only public pool in Pacific County. It is a unique structure with the pool on the second story and open to the weather. The pool offers aerobics classes, private and group swim lessons, school lessons for all local districts, recreation swim daily (with 3 days a week in the summer FREE sponsored by local’s and/or businesses), and swim club.

The pool has been historically owned by the city since it was built in 1955 but operated by a volunteer nonprofit group – People Organized to Operate Leisure activities “P.O.O.L.” since it re opened in 2002. The costs of operating are high and barely covered by incoming funds alone. With over 20 years of operating since the last renovation, the pool is in great need or repairs and maintenance to get back into good working order. The costs of all these repairs add up to over $700,000.

The city has taken over managing the pool as of this year, however, with the costs of the quotes coming in so high for all the necessary repairs required, the pool at risk of closure. The pool was closed from 1982 to 2002 due to lack of funding. During that time, the community suffered three local youth drownings within 4 blocks of our beloved historic pool. With this community surrounded by waterways, the P.O.O.L. Board formed and raised funds to get the pool renovated and opened in 2002. The current P.O.O.L. Board members are all new as of 2024 and have hit the ground running applying for non-profit grants and doing fundraising to help locate funding the much-needed repairs and renovation of the pool to keep it operable.

Overhead view of the pool alongside the kiddie pool.

Together, with both the pool board and the city applying for grants and repairing items by urgency, we hope to continue having a safe place for youth and adults alike to learn to swim and play in our beloved Dr. O.R. Nevitt Memorial Pool.

$50,000 Donation Made to Dr. O.R. Nevitt Community Pool in Raymond