Don’t Miss Your Chance to Double Your Donation!

The Lopez Swim Center is under construction on Pool Lane. The pools’ excavation is finished, with construction of the mechanical building coming next. Watch as progress continues on Pool Lane!

And don’t miss your chance to double your impact NOW: Your year-end donations help fund completion of the Swim Center.

More than 1,300 donors have joined already, and we‘ll be even stronger with your support. TAKE THE PLUNGE! DONATE TODAY to reach our $250,000 year-end goal!

To kick off this year-end fundraiser, Lopezians Leslie Quenell and Brian Silverstein will match all gifts received, up to $5,000!

This local dynamic duo has been supporting the idea of having a local swim center for years. “Our daughter started taking swimming lessons in public pools at age 4, when we lived in Portland,” says Brian, “so we understand the importance of helping kids get these skills from an early age. Here on Lopez, we are concerned about how few local island kids have basic swimming skills.”

“What we want for all Islanders is year-round, easy access to pools for fitness, water safety, and fun,” says Leslie. “There is no better time to join FLIP. We want to get the pools done so we can swim. Please join us!”
DONATE NOW!
Patient performing aquatic rehab with guidance from therapist using pool noodles at aqua fitness center

Aqua Therapy at the Swim Center Provides New Hope for Healing

In partnership with Lopez Island Physical Therapy (LIPT), the Lopez Swim Center will offer a new path on the island to recover from injury or deal with chronic pain: aqua therapy.

The Center’s 24-by-38 warm-water wellness pool will be the site for this highly effective type of physical therapy.

Lopezian Scott Allred, board-certified specialist in orthopedic physical therapy and owner of LIPT, is excited to offer this unique service to the island community. He believes it will make a big difference for islanders who could benefit from an alternative to treatment in a traditional clinic setting.

“Aqua therapy facilitates many of the modalities we do in physical therapy—stretching, strengthening, relieving pain—but in a gentler way,” says Allred. “It gives you a ton of pain-relieving options to perform exercises.”

What makes aqua therapy so great?

  • Less pain, more gain: Water makes you more buoyant and movement easier, reducing stress on your joints and muscles.
  • Build strength, gently: The water’s resistance helps you get stronger without straining your body.
  • Relax and heal: The warm water can help soothe your muscles and improve blood flow, improving mobility.

Aqua therapy can help people of all ages with a variety of conditions, such as:

  • Sports injuries
  • Arthritis
  • Back pain
  • Neurological conditions (like multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s)

“Aqua therapy allows people to perform exercises in a way that is less painful and has less impact on the body,” says Allred. “Most physical therapy clinics don’t provide aqua therapy because it requires access to a pool and specialized training; it’s not common,” he says. “I’m excited to offer it here on Lopez.”

If you think you might benefit from aqua therapy, Allred recommends seeking a physical therapy referral from your primary care provider.

“We’re looking forward to using this as another way to treat islanders and help them resume the activities they want to do again. Aqua therapy provides a great alternative for people.”
Scott Allred, DPT and owner of Lopez Island Physical Therapy, with his wife Adriane, their children Hugo and Andie, and goldendoodle Wally.
underwater photo of young family with kid in Santa hat in swimming pool