Mary Wayte Pool has been a central part of the Mercer Island community since 1972—serving Mercer Island High School swim, dive, and water polo teams, a local club team, and community members who use the pool for swim lessons, lap swim, and fitness classes.

In 2011, the Mercer Island School District took over ownership and operations from King County, and has since managed the pool in partnership with Olympic Cascade Aquatics. To extend the life of the aging facility and improve the user experience, the District launched a major two-phase renovation—the largest investment in the pool’s history—delivered through a progressive design-build [PDB] partnership with GLY and Miller Hayashi Architects.

Funded by $2 million from the community-approved Capital & Technology Levy and a $2 million King County grant, the PDB team completed Phase 1 in September 2025 following a brief summer closure. Key improvements include a resurfaced fiberglass pool liner, updated locker rooms and restrooms, a reconfigured lobby with an ADA-compliant viewing area, new check-in reception and office space, interior and exterior painting, and new water fountains and bottle fillers funded by local grants and community support.

Phase 2, set to finish by the end of 2025, adds new acoustic panels, non-slip epoxy flooring, and exterior building repairs.

This renovation reflects the shared commitment of the School District, King County, and the City of Mercer Island to maintain Mary Wayte Pool as a safe, accessible, and vibrant space for the entire community for many years to come.