Pueblog USa
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Pueblo Swimming Community Suggests Changes to YMCA Aquatics Plan
Some of Pueblo’s ‘swimmers’ think the City is swimming against the current.
With the city of Pueblo willing to contribute two million dollars towards a new aquatic center, and the county offering a matching amount for a new YMCA, there is a wonderful opportunity to work towards a facility that would meet a number of current and future needs. The inventory of outdoor city and indoor high school pools is aging, and will soon require replacements, renovations, or retirements. The elimination of swimming proficiency requirements by public schools has shifted this need elsewhere. Pueblo West’s thriving high school teams do not have a pool home. They are itinerant swimmers and divers who never enjoy a home meet. On a grander scale, Colorado has few sites that can accommodate a large aquatic event such as a state swim meet. And the overall physical health of Americans continues to decline. Youth are increasingly affected. We now have an epidemic of childhood obesity, with the US Government Accountability Office estimating that almost 20% of children 6 to 11 years old are significantly overweight.
Unfortunately, the current YMCA plan for aquatics falls well short of meeting these needs. Community aquatic centers usually incorporate a multi-use design that maximizes utilization and revenue, and accommodates the sports of diving and swimming, including competition. Some even include water polo or synchronized swimming. The YMCA’s unusual plan would allow for water play, therapy, swim lessons, and initially very limited lap swimming, but no sports. As it now stands, the city proposes to gift two million dollars for a facility that provides a nice indoor water park, but otherwise falls short of even equaling the functionality of most of our existing pools. We are happy to see a new YMCA built. As long as the YMCA’s plans did not involve public funds, and they could accept the effect their paradigm had on support and fund-raising, it was the YMCA’s concern alone. Now that they desire to obtain public money, we feel their plan should better address Pueblo’s needs.
Aquatics are just one answer to the need for exercise and social activity that leads to improved physical and mental health, but swimming, in particular, is an excellent answer. It is uniquely accessible to all ages, including seniors and even the infirm. FINA, the international governing body for swimming, maintains world records for masters swimmers over age 100.
It’s fair to ask why competitive swimming is important. It is a bridge between swim lessons and adult fitness. Not many kids will swim laps to stay healthy, but they will exercise if mistaken for fun. Very few swimmers are obese. Age group and college swimmers’ body fat averages about half that of comparably aged controls, and there is a similar trend among masters swimmers. Sports are a laboratory for life, providing lessons and tools such as goal setting, self-discipline, delayed gratification, teamwork, self-confidence, perseverance, time management and commitment. A competitive swim team is the most visible aspect of a comprehensive aquatics program, the tip of the iceberg that’s easily seen and invites outsiders to look more closely. It provides evidence that something is going on. Without it, you forfeit a banner. Participation on a team provides progressive mentoring of various abilities from those more skilled and from coaches. The present Pueblo YMCA facility plan would not allow for these benefits.
This starkly contrasts with the YMCA nationally. Quoting from YMCA of the USA National Swimming and Diving, “Ever since YMCAs began offering competitive swimming and diving in the early 1920’s, these sports have proved to be excellent opportunities for putting into action the YMCA mission. Over 1,000 YMCAs offer competitive swimming or diving, with over 50,000 youth participating. Over 1,400 YMCA swimmers annually compete at the YMCA National Championships, making it the largest youth swim meet in the country. YMCA Competitive Swimming and Diving programs are for the beginning swimmer to the most competitive, and help train individuals of all ages to compete in League, State, Area, and National Championships.” While this may not be a mandate for our YMCA to actually sponsor a local team, it would be appropriate for their facility to accommodate the sport, particularly if it’s built with public money.
As funds are available, the current YMCA plan is to build a moderate-size lap pool. Our recommendation and request is a redesign that broadens, balances and maximizes utilization, including competitive swimming and diving, at least a facility that could accommodate a regional high school or age group meet. We recommend that a plan for a complete aquatic center that can be used for competition as well as recreation, and that would draw guests to Pueblo, be part of the agreement between the city and YMCA.
Ideally, this would be done in concert with the eventual replacement of Mineral Palace pool to create a first-class aquatic center, including adequate seating and other support for events such as state high school and state age group meets. Such a pool could be configured as season and needs dictate. For example, it could be divided into 4 sections, each accommodating a different activity (such as open swimming, lap swimming, club or high school practices, diving, and swim lessons). Additional funding could include a lottery grant, schools that would otherwise have to extensively renovate existing pools or build new ones, and CDOT in lieu of their planned replacement of Mineral Palace pool. We’d be happy to see this done in concert with the YMCA, though it could be a city property run by the YMCA, or even completely independent from the YMCA.
The Swimmers:
Dennis Ray Gimlin (Pueblo Masters Swim Club)
Kathy Howard (South High School swimming and diving and Pueblo Swim Club)
Bob Haley (Pueblo Centennial swimming and diving)
Andy Halverson (Pueblo West High School swimming and diving)
Becky Trujillo (East High School swimming and diving)
Dennis Krall (Pueblo Swim Club President)
Cecil Townsend (Pueblo County Swim America and Pueblo Masters Swim Club)
Timothy Howard (Central High School swimming and diving and Pueblo Swim Club)
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wlioqivc on 04/06 at 05:11 PM -
its really a great news for the student and for all the stakeholders. well its a big amount and we can spent it and make it very good halls and pool. 70-547 dumps and other factor it will give jobs to many people which helps to reduce the economy bad condition.
HP0-J26 dumps on 07/17 at 09:02 PM