SUMMER SWIMMING CONFUSION

[Amber Britton <abritton@ci.moscow.id.us>]

My name is Amber Britton and I am the Youth Recreation and Aquatics
Coordinator for the City of Moscow, Parks and Recreation.  I have been asked
to respond to the comments made on the lap swimming schedule at the
Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center. As many of you already know, the schedule for
lap swimming has been changed for the 2002 summer season. What many of you
probably don't know is that these changes were brought about by massive
number of complaints and suggestions compiled over the last two pool
seasons. The major complaints about the prior existing schedule were:

1.  Lap swimmers felt it was unfair that they were being forced to "circle
swim" with other lap swimmers not swimming their speed. They were upset that
the two lanes dedicated to lap swimming were not enough to allow for
designated speed lanes where slow, medium and fast swimmers would not be
forced to swim together.

2.  Many adult lap swimmers were furious that we did not offer the noon time
lap swim that Ghormley offered all those years. They complained that the
facility was not adult friendly and wanted a dedicated lap swim that
mirrored what they were used to having at Ghormley.

3.  Adults and children complained that there was no time dedicated to deep
water swimming where they could dive off the sides and practice dives and
such that must be done in deeper water.  In order to allow deep water
swimming the diving board had to be closed and this also upset a large
number of patrons.

Taking all the complaints into consideration, and the numbers of swimmers we
had observed using the lap swim lanes during the public swim hours, we made
the following changes:

1 to 2 lanes open during all swim lessons (9:30am - 11:30am and 7:00pm -
8:00pm)
Dedicated lap swim from 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Monday through Friday
Adult Swim lap lanes Saturday and Sunday from 9:00am - 11:00am

This solution pleased the many lap swimmers who were upset before but as you
may have observed, upset many others in the process. We obviously had no way
to predict this and felt we had come up with a viable compromise.  The
largest complaint we have received with the newest changes is that the noon
time swim is during lunch time and mother's don't swim during that time and
therefore can't lap swim while their children swim elsewhere in the
facility.  Another large complaint has been that 7:00pm is too late for
those swimmers who work all day and can't get to the pool for the noon swim.

There was a miscommunication among the supervisors at the pool and
unfortunately incorrect information was given out concerning the City
Council.  A petition was not given to the City Council and the City Council
did not say they felt the Hamilton-Lowe Aquatics Center was for recreation
only.  We did receive numerous complaints and threats to take petitions to
the City Council and I assume that is where the confusion came in.  I
apologize for the misunderstanding and hope that the above information
clears things up a little.

We began addressing the new issues immediately as the suggestions were
brought to our attention and started considering options for changes that
would please the majority. We have since amended the schedule to add two
additional lap swim lanes daily from 5:00pm to closing (effective today,
June 17th 2002).  This current schedule allows for deep water swim,
dedicated speed lanes during lap swim, Fun Run and Black Hole slide play,
and two lap lanes in the evening time. This new schedule only leaves 3 1/2
hours of our 9 1/2 hour daily operation without any lap lanes.  We hope this
pleases the swimmers who have brought forth suggestions.  We do encourage
feedback and welcome constructive criticism.  Thanks for your input!

Amber Britton
Youth Recreation and Aquatics Coordinator
City of Moscow, Parks and Recreation.