The importance of aquatics

<p>With temperatures below freezing, rain blowing through and the ski slopes beckoning, few of us are thinking about swimming. Yet, the Petaluma Aquatics Advisory Board, charged with preserving the city’s Swim Center and promoting aquatics for residents, works hard throughout the year to accomplish both of those missions.</p><p>Why is this important? The Swim Center and its companion facility, the Cavanagh Pool, are the only source of swim lessons available to the public in Petaluma. Every child should learn to swim for safety reasons, to counteract the epidemic of youthful obesity and because swimming is one of the few aerobic sports that can be performed for a lifetime.</p><p>The Swim Center on East Washington and the Cavanagh Pool on Eighth Street also offer public aqua aerobics and aqua therapy classes which are a boon to seniors and aging baby boomers looking for a low-impact way to stay fit or recover from an injury.</p><p>In 1999 the entire swim season at the Swim Center lasted only three months and programs were limited to a few swimming activities. The rest of the time the facility was closed or used to house the homeless. In contrast, the 2008 season at the Swim Center will open during the first week in March and run through the end of October. The new additions to the program mix now include water polo, a masters class, aqua aerobics, scuba lessons and the possibility of kayak training, in addition to all forms of swim activities. The Swim Center features one of the few 50-meter public pools in the North Bay.</p><p>An attractive system of swim passes is now available, accommodating every pool user. A new program of corporate memberships for local employers is also under consideration.</p><p>All of these positive developments have had an impact. Swim Center patronage has grown steadily and revenue increased 8.3 percent over the past season. Swimmers now travel from through the Bay Area and beyond to use the facility. The two local swim teams are continuing to recruit new members.</p><p>Under the energetic, inclusive leadership of the city’s new Parks and Recreation director, Scott Brodhun, the Aquatics Board is engaged with swim facility consultants to begin the long-overdue renovation and modernization of the Swim Center. Immediate improvements being discussed would make the facility more attractive and user-friendly, environmentally-efficient, operationally reliable and better suited for swim competition.</p><p>Still, the Aquatics Board faces several challenging problems.</p><p>Many have suggested that the Swim Center open in February to accommodate the high school teams needing training water and to alleviate the overcrowding at the high school pool. To make this extra month of operation financially feasible, a corporate partner and a new user group, such as SRJC, would be needed.</p><p>The potential construction of the Regency Mall, which would surround the Swim Center on three sides, remains troubling. The Aquatics Board filed concerns regarding compromised air quality, parking congestion, safety issues and hazardous traffic patterns in response to Regency’s draft EIR. The city has not made a final determination on the EIR, but clearly the impact of Regency’s development on this unique public recreational facility is serious and substantial.</p><p>Repairing and upgrading a 42-year-old facility suffering from deferred maintenance will be an expensive undertaking. With Petaluma facing very serious fiscal constraints, a financing mix, including corporate underwriting, borrowing and private donations, will likely be needed to keep the Swim Center functioning.</p><p>On an operational basis, the new aquatics director, Liz Seymour, is recruiting lifeguards and may offer subsidized classes leading to certification for applicants of all ages who are interested in an active outdoor job in recreation.</p><p>All of this requires constant, year-round attention. The board’s meetings are open to the public and anyone interested in aquatics is invited to attend on the first Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Lucchesi Center. For more information on scheduling or programming at the Swim Center, go to http://cityofpetaluma.net/parksnrec/pet-swim.html.</p><p>(Andy Eber is Petaluma resident who is a competitive open water swimmer and a member of the Petaluma Aquatics Advisory Board.)</p>