An enthusiastic foursome of outdoor pool supporters from Southeast Seattle testified before the Council last night along with Elizabeth.  Here’s Aimee’s full testimony.  An excerpt:

"We’re disappointed to hear that you aren’t going to include any pool funding in this levy. Please help us find another way to fund the planning that needs to happen before a pool can go in the next levy. We would love to have an outdoor pool in our community in SE Seattle.

We believe that an outdoor pool in the SE Neighborhood District at Genesee Play Field would address many of the goals and recommendations in the Councils final report."

Christine testified earlier this month on behalf of pools.  A few words from her testimony:

"We live in a water town – we need to address aquatics. After 8 years on the Wedgwood Swim Pool waitlist and 3 years on another club’s waitlist, I’ve joined a private pool in Bellevue to make sure my kids get this kind of opportunity – I’d rather they swim at public pools like our only existing pools in Magnolia and West Seattle, but it is too much of a commute and those pools are over capacity.

I am not here for myself or my kids – I am here for other people’s kids.

…Please launch a city-wide aquatics task force and fund a city-wide study to assess the number, type and location for additional aquatic facilities. Do for pools what you did for skate parks – pools really are for all ages and abilities. Please read and discuss the recently submitted Parks Pool Study – it shows that Mounger almost 100% over capacity for some youth related programs."