Hi -
I read an article about the Burgess pool yesterday and was very concerned.
My family and I moved to Menlo Park at the beginning of the pandemic, March 2020. Shortly after, I became depressed because of my very demanding job and not seeing anyone outside my family. Despite everywhere being closed, we realized that the Burgess pool was open, and I started to swim once per week. Then I began to swim more often and became a lap swim member. A few months later, I joined the Master team. I had never been a swimmer and didn't know any of the strokes, but I felt welcome in the pool. When the pool completely reopened, my daughter joined the bridge program, and we started the open collection for teaching my young son how to swim.
The Burgess pool has become our community. It is so well run with programs for all ages and skill levels. We have lived in many different cities, and I have never seen a pool like Burgess that always has swimming lanes open to the public, no matter what classes are happening in the other lanes.
I don't understand the complaint about the lack of elderly programs. The pool has an aqua program every week, and often I see disabled and elderly people using the special chair to use the pools. Some residents are unhappy about the master's program, but it only runs in the mornings from 6-8 am and four days per week from 12-1 pm. All the other times, the pool is full of kids' programs and lap swimmers. Even during the master's program, there are always free lanes open. I use them often when I am not with the master team.
It would be beyond sad to disrupt the best public swim in the Bay Area because of the complaint of a few. Why not use the time and resources to reopen the gymnasium? I have attached pictures of Burgess while playing with my kids and note how busy with families it is.
Please let me know when the next meeting is happening as I would like to participate.
Best,
Juliana
650-272-8318
[cid:181d66851caf710e3e82]
[cid:181d66814b641bb08e91]
