Promote a healthy community with a swimming pool
I’m sure you’re well aware of the need for a community swimming pool. My purpose in writing this letter is to point out some of the ways such a facility could positively impact our community as a whole.
A pool would be beneficial in many ways. It would provide safe, constructive, and affordable recreation for individuals and families. It would help promote a healthy lifestyle and support a lifelong sport: swimming.
If you see the advantages of having a community pool, I’m confident that you’ll support the idea, and efforts to add such a safe, family-friendly facility to our town.
The demographics of our community have changed greatly in the last decade. The census shows that the average age of the Stanwood/Camano area is now 45 years with 35 percent of the population under the age of 18.
This community needs more recreational facilities that are safe and affordable for families. With a household median income of $44,000 to $66,000, a pool would be a perfect recreational option and would help to promote a healthy community.
The health benefits of swimming are undeniable and affective for all ages. Swimming tones and strengthens muscles as well as helps to maintain and build cardiovascular strength.
A pool could offer lap swimming and low-impact activities like water aerobics for the elderly, as well as swim lessons for the young. It would also serve as a great rehab option with gentle low-impact therapy for people with injuries and conditions that make it difficult to exercise.
Currently, we have two pools for public use. However, both require expensive memberships. In addition, both pools waters are treated with chemicals that produce gaseous by-products that float on top of the water. When these toxic byproducts are inhaled on a regular basis they cause a condition known as swimmer’s asthma. Compounding this problem is improper ventilation. A solution to this problem would be to offer our area a safe chemical-free pool that has water treated with ionization, producing no byproducts.
We have three competitive swim teams in the Stanwood/Camano area and not enough lane space to accommodate them. We also lack a facility that offers sufficient depth for diving practice and competitions, or spectator seating for hosting meets.
Swimming is a lifelong sport that we should embrace because it instills great skills like persistence, determination, focus and health.
I hope you can see eye-to-eye with a neighbor and support efforts to construct a Stanwood/Camano community swimming pool.
–– Cole Farnsworth
Camano Island
