Dear Aquatics Supporters:

Our current aquatics infrastructure dates to 1968’s visionary Forward Thrust voter bond. In the past 5 years, we lost pools in Snohomish and Woodinville due to aging infrastructure, and our population keeps growing. We’ll lose more pools and the capacity we have today very soon - unless our region makes urgent investments to upgrade existing pools, and builds more pools to meet the needs of our expanded population.

Each one of us in the aquatics community should be behind all efforts to increase capacity throughout the region.

SPLASH has been making good progress with the proposed Eastside Regional Aquatics Complex, which we believe can take a significant bite out of the capacity problem – but it’s only a much-needed beginning to fix a much bigger problem. As part of this effort, we’ve been communicating with groups in Bothell, Seattle, Sammamish/Issaquah and Snoqualmie Valley who need pools, too – we’ve each learned separately that this issue must be collectively raised as a regional issue, and the size of the investment required in each case (well over $100 million in total) spans more than one government entity – it’s time for a new Regional Aquatics Plan and the political will to carry it out across all of our local governments.

King County is making some very big decisions related to the 2008 King County Budget.  We need you to contact our elected officials to ask that recreation money be spent on aquatics, before resources are committed elsewhere.  No investments can be made without professional expertise and true community process – we need a sensible Regional Aquatics Plan which articulates our collective need and answers it with a commitment to preserve existing capacity while building pool capacity to meet the needs of the population growth since 1968!

The conversation has begun with the Council, but they need to hear from you that aquatics is a key part of recreation – and that we in King County value indoor recreation and aquatics – not just open space.

Please write each Councilmember immediately, and ask them to budget money for the next phase of the development of the Eastside Aquatics Complex AND to develop a sensible Regional Aquatics Plan:

bob.ferguson@...  -- Bob Ferguson (D) – District 1
larry.gossett@... -- Larry Gossett (D) – Council Chair, District 2
kathy.lambert@... – Kathy Lambert (R) – District 3
larry.phillips@... – Larry Phillips (R) – District 4
julia.patterson@... – Julia Patterson (D) – District 5
jane.hague@... – Jane Hague (R) – District 6
pete.vonreichbauer@... – Pete Von Reichbauer (R) – District 7
dow.constantine@... – Dow Constantine (D) – District 8
reagan.dunn@... – Reagan Dunn (R) – District 9

Using 2-3 points from the list below, send your message to each CM individually – identically worded group emails are not effective.   We must reach each of the CMs to have the full council support, so email everyone on the list.

Here’s a sample, but put the content IN YOUR OWN WORDS:

 

Dear Councilmember (name):

Thank you for your hard work on behalf of our citizens. In balancing the many needs for the future of our county, it’s time money is spent on aquatics. King County should definitely be a partner in funding public pools in our area which is surrounded by water. Please allocate some of your recreation budget to put a Regional Aquatics Plan together to address the need for pool capacity, and support the next phase of planning for the Eastside Regional Aquatics Complex.

(Choose 2-3 from the following points…)

-          We cannot depend forever on one-time investments made 20-40 years ago – facilities do cost money, and people are willing to pay for public recreation, there is value to the community for the cost involved

-          Pools are community gathering places that benefit young and old – swimming is a lifelong activity

-          Healthcare costs are rising for government and businesses – a healthy population is important

-          Seattle is short of outdoor pools, while the Eastside is short of indoor pools

-          Pools should not just be for the wealthy at private clubs – the public should have access, too

-          Demographics have changed – minority drowning rates are high, and public access to swim lessons is difficult

-          Drowning is the #2 cause of death for children in Washington

-          Pools should have programs all types of users from the disabled to elite athletes – space for therapy is needed, and competition provides incentives for healthy lifestyles

-          Aquatics provides activity for kids, and keeps them out of mischief – swimmers typically are good students and have the highest GPA of any sport

Please act now to plan for our future, before public pools in King County are a thing of the past.  Your action will help encourage the health of our citizens, teach more children how to swim, and improve the quality of life for citizens in all economic groups.  Thank you for your time and support!

Sincerely,

Your name and address

 

Additionally, you can share your thoughts in person by testifying at a Public for the 2008 King County Budget.
All meetings start at 7:00 p.m. Wear an aquatics T-shirt, and use the points above to frame your comments…

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
West Seattle High School
3000 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98116

Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Bellevue City Hall
450 - 110th Ave NE
Bellevue, WA 98009

Thursday, November 1, 2007
King County Council Chambers
516 Third Ave, 10th Floor
Seattle, WA 98104

THANK YOU!!  

 

 

 

Please contact us through our website to be added to our mailing list, or if you want to help with these efforts – identify where you are from and any aquatics affiliations, please!

www.splashforall.org