To whom it may concern,
I saw that the Council was reevaluating swim providers for Burgess Pool and wanted to provide our feedback as a family with two young special needs children on the Autism spectrum. Before the pandemic, the current providers rates were tolerable and they had private swim lessons available with instructors with special needs experience. Our family took advantage of these and it was great.
Unfortunately, since Covid, their rates have skyrocketed, lesson schedules have been very limited, and they no longer offer any special needs classes or make accommodations. I spoke with the program directors and no effort was made to address our needs. At one point, I even questioned them because I thought it was a community pool and they told me it was a private enterprise and they had no particular responsibility to the community.
I would like to see a different operator selected who does a better job with prioritizing access for community members with special needs and is committed to keeping rates affordable. If possible, I would much prefer to see a non-profit or the City of Menlo Park itself running Burgess Pool rather than a for-profit corporation.
Sincerely,
Lucinda Tinsman
Menlo Park, CA
