Neighborhood Council 7 Supports Lap Swimming at Michell Pool

Yesterday Neighborhood Council 7 sent the following letter to Patty Rearden, Interim Director of the City Park and Rec Department. If you agree with our viewpoint here, I ask you to send Ms. Rearden a similar letter.

[LETTERHEAD OF THE CITY OF GREAT FALLS]

Neighborhood Council 7
Representing the Lower North and South Sides of Historic Great Falls

June 13, 2006

Patty Rearden, Interim Director
City of Great Falls Department of Park and Recreation
1700 River Drive North
Great Falls, MT 59401

Dear Ms. Rearden;

As the summer now begins in earnest, we would like to compliment both you and your department for its good planning and management of our city’s parks.

We write today, however, to discuss a suggestion to make more and better use of the Mitchell Pool facility for our city’s residents. For the past several years, no lap swimming periods have been scheduled at this facility, the only 50 meter pool in Northcentral Montana.

As you know, an all-comer’s swim meet has been scheduled on July 31 at the Mitchell Pool. However, without scheduling lap swimming periods in this facility, it is impossible for potential entrants to properly train for this event. Training in a 25 yard facility can not fully prepare an individual for a race swum in a 50 yard pool.

At present, the Mitchell does not open to the public until 1 p.m. on weekdays. We suggest and request that you open this pool to lap swimming from noon to 1 p.m. on weekdays. Lap swimmers should have to pay a monthly or daily fee, similar to that currently paid at the Moroney Natatorium, to cover the additional expenses involved in another hour of operation.

In prior years, the Mitchell historically scheduled a lap swimming period. Even without an upcoming meet, such a period allowed both adults and children an avenue for low to non impact exercise in an outdoor environment. We submit that the city and your department should encourage this kind of activity.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
Bob Gaskell
Mike Taylor
Erin Tropila
Aaron Weissman

Cc: Dona Stebbins, Mayor, City of Great Falls