Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Northwest Voices | Letters to the Editor

Welcome to The Seattle Times' online letters to the editor, a sampling of readers' opinions. Join the conversation by commenting on these letters or send your own letter of up to 200 words opinion@seattletimes.com.

Blog Home | E-mail Opinion staff | RSS feeds Subscribe

May 7, 2009 at 4:00 PM

Comments (0)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Swimming cuts, pool closure

Posted by Letters editor

Loss of recreation, water-safety skills, rehabilitation

With "Water, water everywhere" [NWSunday, May 3], there apparently are fewer drops to spare for access to a lifelong physical activity that can provide recreation and rehabilitation, and literally save lives ["Down the drain," Sports, May 6].

This is not to mention the loss of opportunities for fine athletes who carry this activity to Olympic heights and along the way encourage the participation of many others. It is hard to justify the immense attention given to other sports, whose players will ironically end up needing water exercise along with their arthritic grandparents.

In the south end of King County, a group of citizens is determined to save Evergreen Pool, which is scheduled for closure on June 30. This is a year-round pool, built by Forward Thrust funds. For the Highline-White Center community, lack of access to swimming lessons, water-safety training, recreation and water-rehabilitation programs raises questions of priority and fairness.

Pools were built throughout King County with Forward Thrust money and became part of Parks and Recreation. Access and affordability began to overcome cultural recreation barriers and save lives. Not knowing how to swim or how to respect water-safety rules is dangerous; just ask any fireman who has pulled a child out of one of our many unsupervised lakes.

In February 2008, King County launched the Equity and Social Justice Initiative to eliminate long-standing and persistent inequities and social injustices. One of the very neighborhoods that this initiative would purportedly address surrounds the Evergreen Pool. Now is the time for the King County Council to apply this initiative in a very direct way by securing the benefits of the Evergreen Pool to the entire community.

Perhaps the "wave" from the Evergreen Pool will eventually impact sports priorities at the University of Washington, where scholarships and lifetime experiences gained from team swimming can once again be woven into university life. Perhaps also, the beautiful waters that surround us will become more safe, enjoyable and appreciated by all of us.

-- Rachael Levine, Seattle

Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Comments
No comments have been posted to this article. Start the conversation.

Recent entries

Mar 19, 10 - 4:00 PM
Week in review

Mar 18, 10 - 4:00 PM
St. Patrick's Day has come and gone

Mar 18, 10 - 3:59 PM
Toyota recalls and consumer confidence

Mar 18, 10 - 3:58 PM
Health-care roundup

Mar 17, 10 - 4:00 PM
Drug wars at home and abroad

Advertising

Advertising

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising

Browse the archives

May 2009

April 2009

March 2009

February 2009

January 2009

December 2008