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Fall Greetings!
I hope you safely enjoyed being in and around our beautiful Pacific Northwest waters this past summer. I was fortunate to enjoy many early morning swims. Every time I touched the water, I felt closer to my community whether it was through interactions on the dock, in the water, on the pool deck or post swim socialization. Sometimes simply seeing others enjoying a energizing senior water aerobics class was enough to inspire visions of what will be possible for everyone in our community at a new world class public facility.
We have a lot to share in this newsletter, but the biggest news is that on Monday, October 18th the Bellevue City Council will receive our joint Bellevue Parks and Community Service and SPLASHForward recommendation for scope, scale, cost and SITE. The direction council provides will be critical in moving on to the next phase.
We ask that you reach out to the Bellevue City Council members to show your support for our recommendations for a new public aquatic facility in Bellevue. Details below.
On behalf of our Board, thank you for your continued support as we push to reach the next milestone toward new public aquatic facilities so that everyone can learn to swim and be safe in and enjoy our Pacific Northwest waters!
With gratitude,
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Bellevue City Council Meeting - October 18th | | |
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Save the Date & Reach Out to Council Members
On Monday, October 18th, Bellevue City Council will hold a Study Session to review our joint SPLASHForward and Bellevue Parks and Community Service's unified recommended concept plan. The plan includes the recommended scope and scale of the aquatic and dry side components of the new Bellevue Health and Aquatic Center as well as the associated construction and operational costs. Most importantly, it includes the recommended site! The final site recommendation is still in play so you'll need to sit tight until the 18th.
Included in the recommendation to Council will be a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between SPLASHForward and the City of Bellevue that outlines our commitment as the private fundraising partner in partnership with the City.
The council meeting will be virtual and we'd love to see SPLASHForward supporters show up in force. We'll send out information to join the meeting closer to the date.
Before then, we ask that you reach out to our Bellevue City Council members and share your voice of support for a new public aquatic facility in Bellevue and for SPLASHForward's continued advocacy.
Sample Letter to City Council
Send email Council - Before Oct 18th!
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King County Aquatic Facilities Grant Program | |
Applications are LIVE!
As of September 15th, applications are LIVE for the first cycle of the six-year $44 million King County Aquatic Facilities Grant Program. SPLASHForward is sitting on the Advisory Committee for both the Aquatic Facilities Grant and Park Capital and Open Space Grant Programs. Applications close on October 15th.
Roughly $13 million is available in this first cycle of grants. Grant awards for planning, feasibility, and acquisition are up to $100,000 and for capital funding up to $5 million. Details can be found on the King County Parks website.
In November, the Advisory Committee will review applications and make recommendations for King County Council approval. The first grant recipients will be announced early 2022.
It is beyond exciting to see this grant program begin! The opportunity should not be lost to obtain county funds for planning, feasibility studies, land acquisition, and capital to build much needed new, expand existing or refurbish facilities in King County.
How many new or expanded aquatic facilities will be initiated in King County by the end of this grant program in 2025?
Submit your answers on our poll!
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Aquatics Pathways Mission | |
We are committed to creating greater equity and access to aquatics opportunities to those who have little to no swimming ability due to fears and barriers to access. We share with you our mission statement, values, goals and pillars. We are engaging our community in conversation and recently met with Ed Accura, co-founder of the UK's Black Swim Association, a true highlight given his story and powerful use of his art and voice. We have long supported Ed and now have formed a working relationship to support each other as we build awareness and engagement.
Our SPLASHForward Aquatics Pathways mission is to raise awareness and reduce barriers to aquatics accessibility for all ages and abilities so that everyone, especially our Black, African American, Asian American, Indigenous, Latinx, Hispanic, new American/immigrant, refugee communities, and people with disabilities can be water safe and enjoy healthier lives.
| We invite you to learn more and participate as partners as we move forward. |
SPLASHForward Vision Video
We have been busy capturing the stories of powerful voices that represent the diversity of our community and tell the many benefits of having access to water. Through these stories we hope to raise awareness on our efforts for new public aquatic facilities. We look forward to sharing our vision video with you soon!
| Have you found that swim lesson? | |
Earlier this summer, we launched a survey to capture the experience with finding those much sought after swim lessons.
We have heard about the lack of options, the incredible waitlists, the high costs, and long commutes across city boundaries. Also shared is the concern about children loosing skills due to time away from the water or being unable to begin learning water competency skills. The great lack of access to swim lessons is quickly becoming an important public health and safety issue for our community. The pandemic has only magnified the issue with facility closures and staff shortages.
Watch for a story we'll be breaking soon to help build momentum for new public facilities, partnerships with our school districts for water safety and swimming education, and greater access to swim lessons.
Please fill out and share our quick survey!
| High School Lifeguard Training Program | To date we have supported sixteen Bellevue School District high school students (across all high schools) with our program. We are excited to grow the program over the next year. If you are interested in learning more about the program, contact us. | |
Justin Fleming - Our First Paralympic Ambassador | |
Meet Justin Fleming our first SPLASHFoward Paralympic Ambassador. At the age of 15, Justin competed in the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens in the 400m Free and 100m Butterfly. He has held American records in the 50yd and 100yd Free in the S8 Classification.
Justin coaches with the Sammamish High School Swim team, the 12 & U's for Chinook Aquatic Club, and with Shadow Seals, a disability swim club. Justin is a lifelong swimmer and you can find him at noon Masters with Lake Washington Masters, swimming with the Shadow Seals or jumping in Lake Washington with his buddies for an open water swim.
Growing up in Kirkland, Justin knows firsthand the great need for public aquatic facilities and for accessible programming for those with physical disabilities. As a long time Shadow Seals team member, he shares stories of his teammates often traveling great distances just to train and compete.
| Water Safety Workshop Recipients | |
Here are some of the families that received a Summer Water Safety Basket through our Water Safety Workshop held earlier this year with Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue and Rainier Athletes. The baskets were filled with essentials like life jackets, water safety information, towels, sunscreen, and a free pass to the Bellevue Aquatic Center.
Thanks again to all who helped make this event a success!
Watch for additional workshops.
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Bellevue and Kirkland Parks Planning | |
Bellevue Parks and Open Space System Plan | On September 14th, the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Board held a public hearing on the Parks and Open Space System Plan which is a 20 year plan updated every 6 years to prioritize capital projects. SPLASHForward voiced continued strong support for a new public aquatics facility. If you are a Bellevue resident watch your inbox for an upcoming questionnaire to voice your support and feel free to send an email or call. | |
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Kirkland Parks and Open Space Plan | Early this year, Kirkland initiated updating its Parks and Open Space Plan. A big part of the update has been conducting a community needs assessment. In July, SPLASHForward participated in stakeholder interviews voicing strong support for the community's aquatic needs and a new public aquatic facility. Kirkland residents have an opportunity to weigh in before October 15th if they were randomly selected to participate in a survey. After October 15th, an online community survey will be available. | |
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Each time a SPLASHForward supporter, friend or relative buys or sells a home with real estate broker, Yvette Ross, she and Coldwell Banker Bain will donate an amount equal to 10 percent of her commission to SPLASHForward.
Coldwell Banker Bain established its Community Partnership program as a way for the company and its agents to give back to the organizations that are committed to the welfare of our communities. Since the program was founded, Coldwell Banker Bain agents have donated more than $1.48 million to organizations in the Puget Sound area.
For more information, contact Lorraine Masse.
Thank you for this opportunity Yvette!
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Additional way to make a gift | |
Gifts of Stock, Matching Gifts & DAFs
You can now make a stock transfer as your way of supporting SPLASHForward.
Stock gifting instructions can be found on our support page.
We also have now provided direct links to a few local companies matching gift portals and provided a direct link to support us through Donor Advised Funds (DAFs).
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History of Municipal Pools for Health and Pleasure | |
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At the Social Science Association conference in 1898, Josiah claimed that
the municipal pool...
"should in my opinion rank as one of the most important municipal agencies for the improvement of the condition of the people."
| pg 53, Contested Waters, A Social History of Swimming Pools in America, Jeff Wiltse | |
Josiah Quincy, 1898
In the late 19th century, the municipal pool in America began as a public bath providing a means for cleanliness and disease management for the working class that was without any other means to bathe. Boston, Brookline/MA, Chicago, and Philadelphia all played roles in the early municipal pool.
Enter Josiah Quincy, mayor of Boston 1896-1899. His views brought about a major shift in the perception of the public municipal pool as a city's institution to promote physical fitness and health among the urban poor. He identified and called attention to the benefit to bring amusement or 'joy' to the working class as a means to better everyone's lives.
| The Douglas Park Pool and Gymnasium in Chicago in 1896 was the first pool intended for recreation and sport. It attracted all social classes and ethnic diversities. | |
Best-In Class Example - SwimRVA, Richmond, VA | |
Drownproofing their Community
One of our best-in-class facilities, SwimRVA, based in Richmond, VA, puts equitable access to water safety and aquatic fitness at the foundation of their programming. Their Drownproof Richmond initiative aims to make swim lessons accessible to underserved youth. Through a partnership with their local YMCA and USA Swimming, they provide a swim lesson program within schools so that every second grader learns to swim. They have served over 8,000 children in Richmond since starting their effort.
We envision community partnerships that bring access to vital water safety and swimming competency to everyone in our schools and community. We are learning from SwimRVA's founder and grateful for the opportunity.
Learn more about SwimRVA
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THANK YOU from our Board! | |
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SPLASHForward Board of Directors
photo by Heidi Leonard Photography
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Grateful for YOU!
We can't express enough the gratitude we have for your continued support. Each conversation, meeting, email, and exchange on social media stokes our passion to bring our shared aquatic dreams to reality...dreams for community connection, water safety, and aquatic opportunities through the life source of new public aquatic facilities in our communities.
Thank you!
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