Dear Mayor Taylor, Mr. Combs, Ms. Nash, Ms. Carlton, Mr. Mueller, and the Menlo Park City Council, I am writing to share how much Menlo Park Gymnastics means to our family. My two daughters (just 8 and nearly 6) have been taking gymnastics classes at Menlo Park Gymnastics for the past two years since we moved here from Los Angeles. I learned that tomorrow the City Council will vote to decide which business to cut to save money due to COVID-19. I am requesting that you do not eliminate Menlo Park Gymnastics. The coaches at the gymnasium, especially Karen, Mike, Nikolai, and Savina, have made such a difference in my daughters' lives. My older daughter, while quite strong and capable, is often shy socially. I have seen her blossom when doing gymnastics with her coaches. My younger daughter has special needs and while other programs have turned her away, Menlo Park Gymnastics welcomed her into their classes. The coaches worked with her and she has gained strength, better balance, and confidence. Her physical therapist even recommended that we end therapy as long as she keeps taking gymnastics as it is helping just as much if not more. My younger daughter was motivated by her coaches and watching peers do the activities. She was willing to try over and over again where she never would in the therapeutic setting. The coaches at Menlo Park Gymnastics have helped my daughters grow so much! They are both so happy taking classes there! I realize that gymnastics will look different in the future once it is able to open again - smaller classes, less spotting from coaches, perhaps more outdoor exercises. However, gymnastics is so valuable to the self esteem and physical strength and confidence of so many children. It would be a real loss to the community to eliminate this program. Lastly, during this time of closure, the teachers are still working endlessly to provide activities to the children on line through Bloomz. My daughters have loved seeing their coaches in the videos and have been exercising along with the videos. It has been such a wonderful resource the coaches have been providing for families during this time. Once school ends, and there are even less activities for children, I see these videos that the coaches are offering to be even more important for keeping children active and still creating some social connections. Thank you for considering my request. Please keep Menlo Park Gymnastics and all its wonderful coaches! Sincerely, Jane --- Jane R Correia Mother of two daughters 1st grade English teacher at Alto International School 310-591-6734 Received on Mon May 18 2020 - 19:07:10 PDT
