Dear Menlo Town Council:
As a Menlo Park homeowner, I am writing to express my strongest possible
support for Team Sheeper’s continued operation of the Menlo Park public
pools. My entire family, including myself, my wife, and two daughters (not
to mention the entire community!) have greatly benefited from the
facilities and extensive programs provided by Team Sheeper over the
years--benefiting people of all ages and abilities.
From water polo to lap swimming, Masters swimming, triathlon training, and
simple recreational swimming and unstructured fun, the Menlo Park pools
have played a crucial role in our fitness, recreation, and athletic
development.
My daughters, who started their swimming journey as babies at these pools,
not only learned to swim but went on to become successful high school
swimmers and water polo players at Menlo Atherton High School. I personally
made the transition from being a non-swimmer to becoming a dedicated Menlo
Masters swimmer after suffering an ankle injury, a transformation made
possible in adulthood (!) when living in Menlo Park in large part by the
programs Team Sheeper offers.
My wife, too, has found great value in the Aqua Fit program and the
triathlon team, and these experiences have enriched our familys well-being
in many ways.
The variety of programs and the welcoming environment fostered by Team
Sheeper have provided us and our neighbors (including you--I see some of
you Menlo Park city council members at the pool!) with countless
opportunities to improve both our health and our sense of community.
Moreover, I would like to highlight Team Sheeper’s exemplary track record
over the past 20 years. They have demonstrated unwavering reliability and
professionalism and transparency in managing the pools, and their success
is evident in the fact that they were trusted to operate the Palo Alto
pools, which they continue to run with equal success.
It is important to preserve the high standards already established at
Burgess pool while addressing the challenges at Belle Haven pool. I firmly
believe that the issue at Belle Haven is not the fault of the operator, but
rather a broader, community-level responsibility to develop an aquatic
culture in that area. Any operator would face the same challenges in trying
to build participation in a new and underserved location. As such, I
support the idea of the city funding free swimming programs for individuals
in the Belle Haven community. This initiative would allow for equitable
access to aquatic resources, but it should be the city’s responsibility to
fund, not the pool operators.
In conclusion, Team Sheeper has been an invaluable asset to our family and
to the Menlo Park community as a whole. I strongly believe they should
continue to operate the Menlo Park pools and be given the opportunity to
further contribute to the community’s aquatic programs. Their experience,
reliability, and commitment to excellence make them the ideal operator for
this important public service.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Michael Rothenberg MD PhD
Menlo Park Resident
Cotton Street
--
*Michael Rothenberg MD PhD*
rothenbergmike@gmail.com
