Swimmers aim to keep program afloat

Community members are trying to save their access to the Huntington Beach High School Aquatics Facility with a swim-a-thon Sunday.

The facility has to close its doors to the community or double its fees to fill an $8,500 budget gap. Residents use the facility to swim laps four days a week and do Aqua Aerobics classes Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The police and fire departments and the Junior Lifeguards conditioning programs at the facility would also be canceled.

“A lot will be affected if this program is closed,” resident Sylvia Garrett said.

Garrett and Tom Shaw are part of a committee spearheading the effort to save the Community Swim Program by urging the community to get into the water.

Garrett and Shaw were part of the “Take the Plunge” project that raised $2 million to build the facility. Garrett said more than 2,000 residents made donations for the pool, and now they might not get to use it.

“The community will be very upset that those that donated for a community pool won’t have access,” Garrett said.

The swim-a-thon has to raise $8,500 to close the budget gap before Monday to keep the facility open until October, she said.

So far, participants have raised more than $2,000.

Swimmers, both Olympic and novice, can sign up for three different time slots. The time slots are two hours, but Shaw said people can swim for as little or as long as they want. Swimmers will also be assigned to lanes based on their ability, Garrett said.

“I don’t care if someone swims three laps or 50,” Garrett said.

Registration is $15, and a $50 minimum in sponsorships is required. Registration fees also includes lunch served by firefighters, and prizes will be given out to the person who raises the most money and swims the most laps.

Time slots are available from 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Registration and sponsor sheets can be picked up at the pool or at www.SwimHB.org.

Donations can be mailed to City of Huntington Beach, Community Services Department, P.O. Box 190, Huntington Beach, CA 92648.