Title
Support for Penguins Swim Team Practices and Meets at Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Swimming Pool - For the purpose of acknowledging the importance of a city-supported swim team; commending the City of Annapolis Penguins Swim Team efforts as they practice at the Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxton Park; and indicating City Council support for dedicated swim practice time for the Penguins Swim Team.
Body
CITY COUNCIL OF THE
City of Annapolis
Resolution 24-23
Introduced by: Alderman Savidge
Co-sponsored by: Ald. O'Neill, Ald. Arnett, Ald. Tierney
A RESOLUTION concerning
Support for Penguins Swim Team Practices and Meets at Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Swimming Pool
FOR the purpose of acknowledging the importance of a city-supported swim team; commending the City of Annapolis Penguins Swim Team efforts as they practice at the Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxton Park; and indicating City Council support for dedicated swim practice time for the Penguins Swim Team.
WHEREAS, The Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool at Truxtun Park was reconstructed in 2021, utilizing $3.1 million from the sale of the golf course, $198,000 from the Watershed Restoration Fund, $753,000 from the Capital Reserve Fund, $281,000 from bonds, and $618,000 from Program Open Space grant money (12% of the total funding) that went towards parking lot improvements and stormwater management; and
WHEREAS, The approved Capital Improvement Project summary stated that “The new pool facilities will include...a competitive 25-yard, six-lane lap pool...”, clearly indicating competitive swimming was a core purpose of the reconstruction; and
WHEREAS, The Recreation and Parks Department performance measures, as adopted by the Council, have a goal to “Promote healthy lifestyles by delivering quality, inclusive programing at the City’s parks, pools, and recreation facilities” with the objective to “increase competitive programs, partner with sports organizations, and encourage tournaments”; and
WHEREAS, The City of Annapolis Penguins Swim Team, for ages five through 18, is the only public team in our area, providing equitable access to all area residents; and
WHEREAS, The Penguins have operated for nearly 20 years out of the Truxtun Park Pool as a city partner and served thousands of our children as the City of Annapolis team; and
WHEREAS, The Penguins Swim Team’s mission is to provide a healthy and inclusive community that inspires and builds strong, confident and resilient swimmers, promoting teamwork, diversity, unity and friendship for all swimmers and their families by taking pride in each other’s progress and accomplishments; and
WHEREAS, The Penguins have provided scholarships to low-income residents to improve equity in the sport; and
WHEREAS, The Penguins need at least five lanes for only 2.5 hours of the 13-hour day the pool is open, for only 29 days, to have a viable team without crowded and dangerous swim lanes; and
WHEREAS, Anything less than five lanes would cause swim lanes to be crowded to an unsafe level;
NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL that the Annapolis City Council expresses support of the Penguins Swim Team and their past and future dedication to the future swimmers in Annapolis;
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL acknowledges and maintains that having a viable and equitable swim team at the Kenneth R. Dunn Municipal Pool is a priority of the Council and community and has been a central purpose of the pool dating to the conception of the new pool, and continues to be reflected in the performance standards for the Recreation and Parks Department;
AND BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED THAT THE ANNAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL supports the dedication of at least five lanes on average for at least 2.5 hours every Monday through Thursday during the two-month summer swim season, including two to three Saturday home swim meets per the Greater Annapolis Swim League, to ensure we have a viable community swim team for 2023 and beyond.