Parks just asked us to share its flyer and announcement for the second design meeting for the Rainier Beach Community Center and Pool replacement:
Please join in a concept design meeting for the new Rainier Beach Community Center & Pool on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Rainier Beach Community Center.
This is a great opportunity to tell us what is important for you to have in your community and aquatic center.
Please come and participate in shaping this facility.
Best,
Karen O’Connor
Seattle Parks and Recreation
(206) 233-7929 fax: (206) 233-3949
Tuesday, August 18th is the last day to mail in your primary election ballot. You’ll be choosing candidates based on their positions on many issues, with pools just one of your considerations.
In honor of election day, we thought it might be helpful to daylight candidates’ positive efforts in support of public pools.
David Miller: As part of the committee that shaped the 2008 Parks Levy, David tried to make it possible for aquatics planning to be eligible for funding through the levy’s "Opportunity Fund." After the committee nixed the idea of funding pool planning or improvements directly, David contacted us with his "Opportunity Fund" idea and advocated for it on the committee. Unfortunately, changes to the Opportunity Fund’s guidelines did not pass the full committee. Project Seattle Pools appreciated his initiative and his advocacy.
Mike McGinn: Mike spent a very long evening last summer helping Project Seattle Pools create a strategic plan to target our advocacy efforts. He lent his many years of experience in community advocacy as a thoughtful mentor.
Councilmember Richard Conlin: During the summer 2008 budget deliberations, we appreciated Councilmember Conlin’s support. He would have supported funding aquatics planning in the 2009/10 budget if the appropriate green sheet had been brought to a vote. Furthermore, Councilmember Conlin’s staff patiently provided guidance to Project Seattle Pools when we were learning how to navigate the opaque levy and budget processes. Even though time was tight, his staff made time to help us understand how things worked.
Councilmember Nick Licata: During the summer of 2008, Councilmember Licata would also have supported aquatics planning if the appropriate green sheet had been brought to a vote, and if the money had come from a particular budget.
Disclaimer: This information does not imply an endorsement of any particular candidate. Pools are just one of many pressing issues and you’ll choose candidates based on the issues most important to you.
The 2009 Summer Splashtacular at Meadowbrook Community Pool on Saturday August 8th was a great success. Over 94 swimmers enjoyed a free swim from 1:30-3:00pm.
Swimmers practiced their lifesaving techniques at the life guard stations and swam their hearts out in life jacket relays. The high-dive saw lots of action and the shallow end was bustling with family fun. Giveaways included cloth grocery bags, rubber duckies, certificates for private swim lessons, and free passes to Meadowbrook swimming pool.
Thanks go to the Seattle Parks Department, which co-sponsored this event with Project Seattle Pools, and to QFC for the donation of cloth grocery bags. Thanks also go to the many Project Seattle Pools volunteers who helped Parks organize and staff the event.
In April, groups of pool supporters in both NE and SE Seattle submitted applications for neighborhood matching fund (NMF) grants. These matching grants would have made it possible to begin the long planning process necessary for adding to and/or upgrading Seattle’s public pool facilities.
The reason given for both rejections was generic. Both NE and SE teams received the standard rejection letter sent to all rejected applicants. We are fairly confident that our grant was not rejected based on the merits of the argument or the quality of the proposals, but rather due to the political and economic climate. Thank you for your support of these proposals and your interest in accessible swimming for all.
There is an opportunity to resubmit grant application every year, so pool supporters are welcome to use the materials we have prepared to submit future grants independently or in conjunction with Project Seattle Pools. The materials submitted are available here.
