Side Streets ~ Neighborhood people and issues

Archive for the 'Wilson Ranch' Tag

EVERY SWIMMER NEEDS FRIENDS LIKE THESE

May 23rd, 2010, 12:25 pm by

The Friends of Aquatics are at it again!

And that is good news for folks who can’t afford swim lessons or just want ot take a dip on a summer day in Colorado Springs.

The Friends want everyone to know they will still help pay for lessons for anyone who can’t afford them at the city’s only public pool at the Cottonwood Creek Recreation Center.

Lessons are $45 for 10 sessions, 40 minutes each.

The Friends also will help pay for punch cards to Cottonwood’s spacious indoor wave pool, lazy river and water slide. They are $35 for 10 visits. That’s a discount from the normal $4.50 per visit fee for children.

In addition, Friends of Aquatics is still trying to raise $250,000 to subsidize pool operations in 2011. The city has only agreed to keep Cottonwood open this year. It closed public pools at Monument Valley Park and Valley Hi as well as the Prospect Lake beach.

The city pool at Monument Valley Park will be a quiet place this summer. It is closed due to budget cuts. This is a 2010 photo by Carol Lawrence.

The city has contracted out to a private company three facilities: Wilson Ranch and Portal pools and the Aquatic and Fitness Center at Memorial Park. 

Here’s part of a letter the group is sending out soliciting sponsors who might want to buy a banner to hang at Cottonwood:

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Here is a link to a previous blog I wrote on the group.

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FRIENDS of AQUATICS REFUSES TO THROW IN THE TOWEL ON CITY POOLS

March 10th, 2010, 1:55 pm by

The Friends of Aquatics is a group of people who love to swim.

And they want everyone in Colorado Springs to have the chance to learn and enjoy the water, regardless of the economic condition.

That’s why the group founded in 1998 and has, ever since, paid for poor kids to Learn to Swim.

The group also has supported other swimming programs for seniors, handicapped, Junior Life Guard training and others.

Now, the group is trying to keep Colorado Springs swimming pools afloat in the face of a budget crisis that threatens to pull the plug on all six pools.

So they are trying to raise $250,000 and convince the City Council they can operate the two indoor pools — Memorial Park and Cottonwood Creek — as well as the Wilson Ranch outdoor pool in Mountain Shadows.

Here’s a look at the brochures they are circulating:

In addition, they have printed postcards seeking donations. Here is one of the cards.

 

They are taking questions at 385-6032 and will respond to inquiries e-mailed to FriendsofAquatics@gmail.com

The primary movers behind the Friend group are Deb Barry and Daisy Chun Rhodes.

 Barry retired in December after 20 years running the city’s aquatics programs.

Rhodes is a longtime city activist, serving on the Parks Advisory Board, and a founder of the Friends group back in 1998.

Both are passionate about the pools. They are doing everything they can think of to raise money for the pools. They are seeking grants. Asking for donations. Even selling coffee to raise money. Here’s a look at their offerings:

They have until March 31 to convince the City Council their plan will work to at least keep the three pools open. They are hoping to get more time from the council to pursue their fundraising efforts.

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