To the Editor:
Your recent article regarding the Aquatic Center (“Snohomish Aquatic Center patrons petition to prioritize seniors’ open fitness hours in summer,” July 17 Tribune) contained a surprising amount of inaccurate information, which could have been avoided by merely checking the schedules. The current summer recreation pool schedule shows 99.5 hours of TOTAL activities, 35.5 of which are open for water walking. In the spring, there were 37.5, not 91.5, which means a total reduction of 2 hours, not 60, as claimed.
Waterfit classes, which are extremely popular with seniors as well as many others, make up a total of 13 hrs/week. Only TWO of 23 classes utilize the screen generously donated to the pool by the community.
The hours of contention between 9am-12pm will provide swim instruction time for 1,864 children (currently registered per Guest Services) across a 10-week period this summer. Compare this with the 5-6 individuals who prefer access to the same area during this time.
The assertion that seniors are being discriminated against is patently silly. Seniors enjoy lap swimming, Masters swimming, river walking, water fitness, open rec and open fitness. Some have limitations that restrict their choices, but they don’t expect to displace nearly 2,000 people to accommodate their personal schedule. At this point, the petition circulating is meaningless because those supporting it did not have accurate information, nor does it represent people who are actually impacted.
Gail Brenchley
Snohomish
