The community gathered at Samena Swim and Recreation Club Friday to celebrate the grand opening of its new facility and commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary.

“This is the fifth and final phase of major construction that we’ve done here since the ‘90s, which is great because it allows us to kick off our 50th year,” said Tonya Swick, general manager of Samena, a non-profit, member-owned recreation club in the Lake Hills neighborhood that serves about 6,000 members.

The $3 million project included the construction of a new 10,000 square foot indoor pool facility adjacent to the main building. The new structure has replaced the tent-like canvas structure that housed the indoor pool since the ‘80s that members referred to as a “bubble.”

In addition, the facility features a new hot tub, multi-purpose room that can be used for birthday parties and junior life guard training with direct access to the pool, and new decking.

During the Friday event, Claudia Balducci, deputy mayor, was in attendance for a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Samena staff thanked city officials for “going out of their boundaries to do some speedy work,” which allowed for the project’s completion in only six months after construction broke ground.

Staff also noted Samena’s special place in the community, which voted the club as a Lake Hills treasure several years ago.

“We have a community aspect to us and I think that’s what people really like the most about being a member here,” Swick said, adding that members come as far as Woodinville for aquatics, fitness, preschool, before and after school programs and camp. “We want everyone to come in, feel comfortable and know that they have a space that’s theirs.”

In 1958, Lake Hills’ developers donated land to the community and 250 neighborhood families came together and broke ground on the former Olympic Athletic Club. The following year, they renamed the club to Samena, which means “hunter” in the Chinook Indian language. Since then, the club has seen four renovation stages, including a new fitness center, indoor pool renovation, administrative office expansion, family locker rooms and playground.

“We’re just very excited that we can be in the position that we’re in today and to be here for 50 years really says something about our members who have supported us that long,” Swick added.

Steve Ellis, Samena board member who’s been a club member for 12 years, said what is most meaningful to him is the fact that the club is still “a going concern after 50 years here in Lake Hills.”

His son, Graham, has participated in programs such as summer camp since he was a child. Now 22, Graham is a lifeguard at the club while going to college.

“So many things have come and gone as Bellevue’s grown up and changed. Samena’s still here and the programs are expanding,” Ellis said. “To me, it’s not just a place to hang out on the weekends or cool off on a hot summer day – it’s a lot more.”

Carrie Wood can be reached at cwood@reporternewspapers.com or 425-453-4290.