Much to the chagrin of users, the Carole Ann Wald Pool in St. Edward State Park seems headed for closure as of March 31.

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Spokesperson Virginia Painter said her organization is facing the same budget challenges currently hitting other governmental agencies.

The state-park system contracted for the running of the Kenmore pool with the Northwest Center, a Seattle nonprofit servicing disabled persons throughout the area.

Painter said the state recently reached an agreement with Northwest to fund the pool through March, basically the first quarter of the year. She added the state generally provides annual funding for the pool in the amount of about $55,000 a year.

According to Painter, if a new funding source is not found by Northwest or other pool supporters by the end of March, the facility will close its doors.

Northwest Center Vice President Mike Quinn said he only recently received notice from the state of its decision. He swouldn’t comment on the future of the pool, even to say for sure it is going to close.

“People are starting to say that, but I don’t know that,” Quinn said. “We’re still hoping things get ironed out.”

Painter said from the state’s point of view, running a swimming pool is not a core function of the parks department. She said with the current budget crunch, parks officials decided they need to concentrate on keeping parks open and maintained, cutting out any perceived non-essentials.

Even trying to reach certain park officials has become somewhat difficult. The parks regional office has switched to a four-day work week – according to a recorded message – the suggestion of Gov. Chris Gregoire. A spokesman for the regional office did not return a phone call and could not be reached for comment. If the pool is closed in March, it is unclear if that closure will be permanent or what will happen to the building.

Judging from the Northwest Web site, the organization helps operate several pools in the Seattle area, providing recreational opportunities for the people it serves. But Northwest Center clientele are hardly the only users of the St. Edward pool. The facility offers swimming lessons and summer camps for children, along with exercise programs for senior citizens.

Further, the pool serves as the practice site for Inglemoor High athletes. A synchronized swim team also uses the pool.

“I’m not pleased with what is going on and I’m not very optimistic,” said pool supporter and regular user Chris Tracy.

“The pool has completely changed the quality of my life,” he said, providing him with a place to exercise, which in turn has helped ease some health problems.

Tracy said he doesn’t understand why the state can’t make proportional cuts instead of just slamming shut the doors to the pool. Stating he regularly sees pool visitors from Kirkland, Bothell, Lake Forest Park and even Seattle, he hopes local municipalities can each pitch in some funding to the keep the pool open.

“The door hasn’t been completely shut,” Tracy said, but he feels supporters need to drum up alternative funding quickly if the pool is to survive.