Thanks to voters, John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool in Oak Harbor will likely remain open another six years.

As of Friday morning, 6,892 votes, 61.97% of the ballots cast, voted to continue the North Whidbey Pool, Parks and Recreation District levy, which funds the pool and other community services and amenities. For the pool to remain open, the district is required to earn a supermajority of 60%.

“I am feeling very optimistic in what we are seeing from the polls so far,” Park and Rec Commissioner Brit Kraner said. “Anytime there is a supermajority requirement, you’re going to have a bit of an uphill battle to meet that 60% threshold. If we continue trending the way we have been as the remaining ballots trickle in, then the levy will have passed successfully.”

Kraner said that the board felt uncertain how well received the measure would be, as the commissioners originally intended on proposing a Metropolitan Parks District instead and shifted to a levy renewal late in the process.

Having to shut the pool down in 2017 created more of a “community buy-in” to the district, she said.

“We have experienced overwhelming community support with this levy, and we had an outstanding community-led levy committee that worked tirelessly to promote our district,” she said. “For that, the Board of Commissioners could not have more gratitude.”

The levy will renew what North Whidbey Islanders have paid the last six years, supporting up to 20 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, but Commissioner Bill Larsen said that with the expanding programs and services, patrons will see more value.

The district may have just made the cut because some feel there are too many government organizations providing overlapping services.

According to the advocacy committee for rejecting the resolution, since the last levy, property owners in Oak Harbor are now taxed to support two parks and recreation organizations, the City of Oak Harbor parks and recreation department and the North Whidbey Pool, Park and Recreation District.

The committee stated that property owners could save nearly $1 million annually by combining the two organizations that provide recreational districts to the same population.

At a March meeting, Oak Harbor Councilmember Jim Woessner addressed the idea of having the city take over the parks and rec district. He pointed out that $800,000 spent on improvements in recent years would have been absorbed by the 22,000 Oak Harbor residents as opposed to the 41,000 people of the greater North Whidbey district.

The levy will help fund summer day camp activities, kayaking, arts and crafts and local adventures, youth sports leagues including volleyball, basketball and flag football, special programs like pickleball, kickball, robotics and fly fishing.

The funds also help maintain and upgrade machinery, equipment and recreational items.

Currently, the district is solidifying next year’s budget and working to keep programs affordable.

“I sincerely thank the voters of North Whidbey for the support and favorable votes toward our district and the levy,” Kraner said. “We look forward to continue having a positive impact on Whidbey Island in terms of health and recreation.”