Dear Council,
I've been a Menlo Park resident for over 16 years. I have 3 children and all of them have spent many hours over the years at the Burgess Pool in various programs: swim lessons, summer camps, drop-in open swim, and swim team practice.
On average, I spend 100 hours per year swimming at the pool via the public access lap swim program, and have been doing this for the past 8 years.
Burgess Pool and its programs have been an outstanding resource for my family and I, and its management has been great. It was so nice that the pool was up and running quickly and safely during the early covid pandemic.
The programs, which include resident and non-resident drop-in swim times are very accessible to all. The recent article in the Almanac misleadingly portrayed the pool as a place not accessible to the elderly, disabled, and non-athletes. I see people from all walks of life and of all ages at the pool every time I go.
Tim Sheeper has been doing a fine job. The recent article in the Almanac is very concerning, as it appears to paint the pool in a negative light which is out of touch with what is actually happening there, and not in-line with the actual experiences of the users and our Menlo Park community.
Sincerely,
Justin Young
