Joy & Light
Sharing Our Bright Spots
Written by Eileen Wang
SPLASHForward celebrates many accomplishments over the past year and plans for more to come. As many of us take time to reflect, gather, and revel in the festivals of light this time of year, let’s take a look at the bright spots of SPLASHForward’s programs and advocacy.
Community impact in aquatics is at the heart of the mission of SPLASHForward…
an organization dedicated to creating a new public aquatics and wellness facility that serves the shared needs of our community for health, exercise, recreation, sport, water safety, and social interaction.
A shining bright spot is the High School Lifeguard Training Program created and funded by SPLASHForward that has supported training 70 lifeguards to date. In partnership with UW Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Public Health of Seattle King County, this program is expanding into 2023, and has increased water safety in the region by directly addressing the nationwide lifeguard shortage. Not only do lifeguards keep local beaches and pools safe, they are critical to supporting access to swim classes and drowning prevention programs.
Engagement with the City of Bellevue along with community support for a new Bellevue Aquatic Center was a bright spot demonstrated in the City’s public feedback gathering and community meetings on the Airfield Park Master Plan. These opportunities to share feedback on the importance of a new aquatics and wellness facility inform the City of the importance and strength of aquatics in our region. The next meeting in January will present recent design plans that include the aquatics and wellness facility. Please consider attending and showing your support for the future of aquatics in Bellevue. Stay up to date on the City’s website.
Providing feedback on master plan alternatives at the Bellevue Airfield Park Community Meeting #2 held at South Bellevue Community Center, September 22nd
Inclusivity and reducing barriers to access are other central focus areas for SPLASHForward.
Running the first Aquatics Pathways Introduction to Aquatics and Water Safety Summer Camp was a bright spot that made progress towards this goal. Boys and Girls Club of Bellevue, Rainier Athletes, Samena Swim and Recreation Club, and Washington State Boating worked with SPLASHForward to invite 12 youths to camp. They participated in daily swim lessons, enjoyed free play and water sports like water polo, and spent a day kayaking on Lake Sammamish over the course of a week. These middle school students came together from varied backgrounds to have fun while learning how to be water safe. Recent King County grant funding will allow this program to grow for 2023, to serve even more participants.
The economic impacts of building a new aquatics and wellness facility to serve the significant population increase in Bellevue and the Eastside region were highlighted in a study commissioned by SPLASHForward.
The proposed facility can drive as much as $26 million in the local economy.
It will be a generator of job creation and growth in Bellevue from the time ground is broken (construction jobs) through to after the facility is opened. Revenue from swim lessons, fitness classes, drop-in fees, memberships, and rental revenues contribute to covering operational expenses for the facility itself.
The bright spot scoped in the study of building a source for economic growth through jobs, hotel occupancy, visitor spending, and events provides tangible economic benefits beyond boosting the physical and mental health of our area’s residents.
So many bright spots come from organizations working together and sharing in the efforts and accomplishments of SPLASHForward. Partnerships are the foundation upon which SPLASHForward can increase programming and amplify advocacy efforts. From government, through the City of Bellevue and King County, to healthcare institutions of UW Harborview Injury Prevention Research Center, Seattle Children’s Hospital, and Public Health of Seattle King County. Along with local organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club and Rainier Athletes, and businesses, including Amazon and Proliance Orthopedic Associates, among many others, the message of Water for All Water for Life builds support throughout the community. Founding the Pacific Northwest Aquatics Regional Coalition (PARC) to bring together regional entities working to build new or expand existing aquatic facilities and participating on the Kirkland Parks Funding and Exploratory Committee to recommend a parks ballot measure proposal for November 2023 both increase the geographical reach of the mission of SPLASHForward.
Adding our voice at October’s Bellevue Parks Board Meeting.
Building community at Spiritridge Elementary
Amazon and SPLASHForward at the Boys and Girls of Bellevue Friends breakfast.
Support from individuals and businesses in the area sustain efforts of SPLASHForward. Thanks to the majority of voters who approved the Bellevue Parks Levy in November. The levy includes funding for the next design phase of an aquatic center.
Remember to attend the next Community Meeting on the Master Plan of Airfield Park in January.
Other ways to share your support include participating in our survey of priorities for a new Bellevue aquatic center and active spaces in Bellevue. Increasing water safety, building a much-needed new aquatics and wellness facility in Bellevue, and providing more opportunities for water access to underserved communities, SPLASHForward is excited to plan for many more bright spots in the coming year and beyond.
Please contribute to SPLASHForward, a 501(3)c organization in any amount you can.
This could be the future for an aquatic facility in Bellevue.
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Learn More...
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