Dear Menlo Park City Council,
I am writing to express my emphatic support for Menlo Swim and Sport and
Team Sheeper. I have become aware that there are concerns about the
operations at Burgess Pool and Belle Haven Pool and would like to share my
experiences with the operators at both locations.
Though we live in Redwood City, both my sons attended Alto International
School and one child still attends Silicon Valley International School in
the Willows neighborhood. Due to the school’s close proximity to Burgess
Pool, our sons started participating in swim lessons at Burgess Pool over a
decade ago. It was a great program with a positive and welcoming atmosphere
and both kids thrived in their group lessons.
My own journey with Menlo Swim and Sport began around 2017, when a friend
convinced me to try a triathlon. I feared my swim skills were inadequate
and hesitantly joined Menlo Masters fearing I would be turned away for not
being good enough. Instead, I was blown away by the kindness of my lane
mates and the encouragement by the coaches, who were clearly interested in
everyone’s journey in the pool and not just the fast lanes with the former
collegiate swimmers. Tim Sheeper would come over to my slow lane and give
us a huge smile and a skill-tailored goal. At the annual swimmer of the
year Menlo Masters team party, Tim pointed out that this is one of the few
places where people spanning 7 decades (age 20 to 90) regularly interact.
Indeed, that is a gem. Tim clearly sets the tone with the team, with the
coaches, for inclusion and kindness, for each swimmers growth, and for
community. And after a recent year abroad coming back to Menlo Masters was
one of the biggest highlights for me.
So, when my older son was looking for his first job, I was quick to
recommend lifeguarding at Menlo Swim and Sport, despite the distance from
our home in Redwood City, because I was confident in the role models he
would encounter there. My son is now lifeguarding at Burgess, Belle Haven,
and Rinconada pools. According to him, Belle Haven is “the coolest
facility” and my hope is that usage will grow and the vibrant programming I
have experienced at Burgess will expand to Belle Haven with time and
support.
While I do not know the details of the financial situation or contracting,
I do know that Menlo Swim and Sport has been a wonderful aquatic provider
at Burgess Pool and I would be devastated to see it go away. Based on my
experience with Team Sheeper, I can say with confidence that they have the
best intentions to provide quality aquatics and community at both
facilities and are clearly not in it for profit but for sustenance.
I sincerely hope the City of Menlo Park can find a way to both maintain the
current Burgess operations and give the Belle Haven facilities time to grow
their usership. There is nothing comparable up and down the Peninsula.
Kind regards,
Anna Sedello
1828 Lenolt St.
Redwood City, CA 94063
