City Pools Fill Up as Temperature Heat Up

The summertime community pools in Santa Barbara are a priority for recreation and swimming lessons this year. Despite the drought, the pools have a strong health and safety benefit.

The City Aquatic Supervisor Tony Sholl says the Oak Park and Ortega park pools have been busy and he encourages parents to bring their kids down for free swimming or to take lessons.

Sholl says it will have lifelong benefits.”Being at such a young age being exposed to it in a safe environment, it just builds that confidence and hopefully spurs you to stay in the water your entire life.”

One resident near the Oak Park pool says it was not only a relief from the heat it helps people who do not have many inexpensive recreation choices.

“It’s excellent and especially since around here so many people around here are renting and don’t have their own pool and it makes it really nice,” said Candra Davis.

One eight year old Sarah Vico said, “like to swim and splash around a lot.”
She also takes gymnastics lessons during the summer but enjoys the escape from the hot weather in the neighborhood pool. “I like that there is a fountain and if I go near it then water goes on top of me.”

eventually with more time in the water Sholl says ” we have little wading pools which are easy for kids to go in and walk around and play. It is a bit deeper at Los Banos and we will help them take lessons.”

For more information go to:

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/gov/depts/parksrec/recreation/youth/aquatics/default.asp

(more video and information will be added here later today)