Dear Menlo Park City Council.
I write in deep concern of the Menlo Park Pools, Belle Haven and Burgess. I have been swimming at Burgess Pool for nearly 20 years. I have known Tim Sheeper for over 35 years as a coach and friend. I have attended an aquatics meeting held at Burgess to support the efforts to find a solution for the two pools. It is clear that there is a huge financial loss at Belle Haven due to its location, lack of patronage and support from the City. Build a pool and the people will come is not always the case. Forty percent of adults do not swim. One of the root causes is that many cultures including those who are black or hispanic have never been able to afford swim lessons to learn to swim. So, why would they go to their local pool if they can’t swim? How do we fix this? Teach them to swim!
According to the 2024 Census, (see a portion below) over 75 percent of the population in E.PA. Is either Hispanic/ Latino or Black. How do we bridge the gap? An organization called Beyond Barriers was founded in 2012 by Tim Sheeper’s Masters swimmers. Swim lessons at Belle Haven have been subsidized through Beyond Barriers.
https://beyondbarriersaf.org/about-us/history/ (https://linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=https%3a%2f%2fbeyondbarriersaf.org%2fabout-us%2fhistory%2f&c=E,1,pJdrEg0Gra51QgKDADKsLeMDAAwhdEIZ8hTVpVXD_60ipBo-HQaUZylcdIFuLycCc2JZS7lKkfPdakuoJBivjup3Ro5D3U8Gp3XFh84NPube&typo=1)
In 2012, a group of dedicated swimmers formed BBAF to provide safety, health, and lifestyle changes to the young underserved members of our communities. BBAF gives aquatic scholarships for swim lessons, lifeguard training, water polo, and recreational opportunities through pools and programs in our neighborhoods. BBAF endeavors to save lives and change lives through aquatics. Two children drown every day Swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88% Children in minority communities have disproportionately no to low swimming ability According to USA Swimming Foundation, two-thirds of African-American children, nearly half of Latino children, and four in ten white children have little to no swimming ability. Nearly eight in ten children from households earning less than $50,000 per year have little to no swimming ability. The families BBAF serves need access to a local pool and ease of funding for these vital lessons for the safety, health, and well-being of their children. BBAF started with one partner provider at a local pool in East Menlo Park serving just under 100 children. In 2019, BBAF provided for 9,100 swim lessons, serving 2,000 children. In addition, BBAF subsidized 1,200 other aquatic lessons. During the 2020 pandemic year, BBAF was able to serve 300 children, providing for 1,200 swim lessons and over 700 hours of other aquatic, physical, and wellness activities. Since inception, BBAF has grown considerably, impacting 10,600 children, subsidizing 44,500 swim lessons and 9,500 hours of other aquatic activities. “I’ve been able to reach my full potential in the pool and learned to persevere. Thanks to Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation I’ve been able to learn to swim, work on my skills, and share them with others.” – Carlos, BBAF Swimmer & Lifeguard at his local YMCA Mission History Team Financials GIVE NOW!
It takes a community and beyond to bridge a social gap. I have been teaching swim lessons for the past 20 years. I’ve taught at swim schools and for myself. It is rare that I have the opportunity to teach a black child or Hispanic child. I have subsidized lessons for anyone needing lessons who can’t afford it. However, most of the kids that I teach are white and Asian. I have been the Head Coach of swimming for Woodside High School for the past decade. We are a no cut sport and I allow anyone to join the team. I have taught a few Latino girls to swim who have stayed and raced on the JV team. Most of the kids who join the team are white with a small percentage being Asian. They all come with a swimming history of varying degrees. We have no black kids on our team currently nor have we ever had any for the past decade. 50 percent of the kids are Latino that attend WHS and about 40 percent of the school is white. Again, the Latino kids and black kids do not swim on the swim team due to their inability and lack of opportunity to know how to swim. At WHS, the kids who can’t swim either sit on the bleachers during the swim portion of PE or they walk in the 3 foot area. One teacher cannot teach an entire class to swim and lifeguard at the same time, yet, this is what they have to do.
I’ve read that the city of Menlo Park is blaming Tim Sheeper for not being able to make Belle Haven a financially viable pool or that he should somehow bridge the gap between the two pools. I think this is a huge, huge problem and not one that one pool operator can do alone. If we want to bridge the gap between Menlo Park and Belle Haven, everyone needs to step up and support the community!
Thank you for reading my thoughts. I hope those on the city council pointing the finger at Tim Sheeper can take a deep breath and look at the bigger problem. Rather than fight each other, why not come together and try to solve this issue together.
Stephanie Couch
Menlo Master Swimmer
Head Coach of WHS Swim Team
Local Swim Teacher
