The City of Washington is giving a boost to its efforts to raise support for the Hildred T. Moore Aquatic & Fitness Center.

During January, the Department of Parks and Recreation runs its bi-annual pool membership promotion in an effort to add to its almost 800 current members, according to Kristi Roberson, manager of Parks and Recreation.

During the promotion, the application fee is waived. A similar promotion is run in June for the summer months.

Roberson said January is a good time to push membership because of New Year’s resolutions, and people are looking to get into a more active routine.

“People tend to head back to the gym,” she said.

Roberson said the more people use the pool, the more the costs to operate are offset.

The fate of the Aquatic & Fitness Center’s pool facility has been in limbo for months, as it operates on a deficit. The facility costs the city more to keep open than membership fees and other pool-related revenue can cover.

However, many residents have expressed their desire to keep it in operation.

The Save the Pool campaign was formed in mid-2016 with a goal of raising half of the money needed to replace a dehumidifier. The dehumidifier was originally estimated to cost $300,000, but a later quote placed the cost at roughly half that amount.

At a Dec. 12 City Council meeting, Roberson reported that the Save the Pool campaign had raised $30,843.86. The campaign has hosted a slew of events to raise money, including a Pizza Inn night and a golf tournament.

Roberson said she views Save the Pool as a step in the right direction for keeping the facility open.

“I believe that the community stepped up,” she said. “It is our hope to actually continue with some of the fundraising events on a yearly basis.”

The city is also looking for a new aquatics and fitness supervisor, as Dalace Inman recently accepted another job offer.

Roberson said she would go before the City Council again Monday to try to gain further clarification on the future of the facility.