Public swimming program returning to Santa Ynez highschool this summer season

The pool at Santa Ynez Valley Union High School can be open to the general public this summer season for the primary time since 2019.

“I think it’s invaluable,” mentioned Solvang resident Jan Dougan. “Everybody should learn to swim, especially in California.”

Dougan mentioned her children discovered to swim on the public pool.

“And then it was also great because they’d have free swim in the afternoon, so your kids could have a lesson and then come back with a thousand other kids to swim in the pool, which made them want to swim, being with their friends,” she mentioned.

Another Solvang resident, Randy Rosness, mentioned the dearth of a public pool has left few native choices.

“I’ve never been or seen a swimming pool for the people who need it and like to have it,” he mentioned.

Now, the cities of Solvang and Buellton are working collectively to convey again a summer season swim program at the highschool.

“It stopped because of COVID and nobody brought it back, so we just feel like now is a great time. We’re all staffed back at the appropriate levels and the community is growing and it’s a great time to do it,” mentioned Jenny McClurg, Solvang Parks and Recreation Director.

The cities will run this system themselves, beginning with leisure swim and classes.

The program might price as much as $60,000.

“We will be hiring for lifeguards and swim instructors,” McClurg mentioned. “We still have to, you know, get all our facility requests in and get all of that completed, insurance, and so there’s just a lot of, you know, paperwork and backend type things.”

“It’s almost shameful that we’re as large as we are and don’t have a swim complex or a public swimming area,” mentioned Solvang Mayor David Brown. “We’re going to present and provide resources to have that swim program reinstated.”

The seven-week public swim program is anticipated to start out in mid-June.