Since April of the year 2023, our more-than-50-year-old pool has been under fire for its poor looks. Unless the heater is fixed soon, our team will continue wasting money on renting other pools in order for our swimmers to practice swimming every day. The extra money used has already run into our reserve budget. Since its creation, the Santa Clara Swim Club has produced fast swimmers and will be forced to shut down when we run out of money.
The Santa Clara Swim Club in California was founded in 1951 by swimmer and coach George F. Haines. For years, many notable Olympic swimmers were taught and raised at the Club, including Donna de Varona, Don Schollander, and the legendary Mark Spitz. Their swimmers have earned 42 gold, 18 silver, and 11 bronze Olympic medals. The home pool of the swimmers, the George F. Haines International Swim Center, has hosted Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, Western Zone Championships, and Pacific Swimming Far Western Championships meets. The Club has boasted a successfully competitive team under head coach Kevin Zacher in the past.
However, the new conditions have taken its toll on the Club. A part of our heater has malfunctioned. We need it to be remade by a factory, but since it was from 50 years ago, the parts are scarce. As this is not the first time our heater has been broken, we currently do not know if our luck will last. What if it is now damaged beyond repair?
The George F. Haines International Swim Center is the heart of the Santa Clara Swim Club, where 500 determined kids are relentlessly pursuing their path to greatness in the sport of swimming. With the pool under maintenance, we’ve had to transfer all our items (lane-lines, flags, etc.) to the pool of Independence High School, solely for the success of the recent International Meet. We have used extra money to rent other pools instead of our own. Our budget is now completely out of control, due to the need for extra money in order to rent our excess pools. Many people who have moved in order to accommodate the position of our beloved Swim Center have found difficulties driving to new pools under the circumstances. The journey to Independence High takes 30 minutes to one hour on average–every day!
“It’s clear that driving to Independence daily is no hard feat,” said an anonymous swimmer of the Club. “My parents are just so tired, having to also balance work-related business along with driving me to practice.”
For three months, the members of our club have waited anxiously for news of our pool. When will the heater be fixed? But as it is still under progress, it may soon prove that our city’s efforts may extend into the next school year. We may have a few extra hours to commute over the summer, but what of the approaching school days?
Still, an even greater threat sits right at our front door. Spending extra money in order to rent other pools has created a looming possibility that our pool may never regain its glory. The thought strikes fear in many people. If our Club breaks down due to this problem, our swimmers will have nowhere to go.
For all real-property owners residing in Santa Clara County, we pay a 0.85% effective property tax on average. The money we pay goes to the state to fund all public schools, parks, public safety procedures, roads, and other essential community needs. Our pool is one of them.
“We sincerely hope that the City of Santa Clara would take heed to our concerns and spend more time and effort using our money to repair the International Swim Center,” said the parent of a swimmer. “No pool? No dream.”
The Santa Clara Swim Club in California was founded in 1951 by swimmer and coach George F. Haines. For years, many notable Olympic swimmers were taught and raised at the Club, including Donna de Varona, Don Schollander, and the legendary Mark Spitz. Their swimmers have earned 42 gold, 18 silver, and 11 bronze Olympic medals. The home pool of the swimmers, the George F. Haines International Swim Center, has hosted Senior Nationals, Junior Nationals, Western Zone Championships, and Pacific Swimming Far Western Championships meets. The Club has boasted a successfully competitive team under head coach Kevin Zacher in the past.
However, the new conditions have taken its toll on the Club. A part of our heater has malfunctioned. We need it to be remade by a factory, but since it was from 50 years ago, the parts are scarce. As this is not the first time our heater has been broken, we currently do not know if our luck will last. What if it is now damaged beyond repair?
The George F. Haines International Swim Center is the heart of the Santa Clara Swim Club, where 500 determined kids are relentlessly pursuing their path to greatness in the sport of swimming. With the pool under maintenance, we’ve had to transfer all our items (lane-lines, flags, etc.) to the pool of Independence High School, solely for the success of the recent International Meet. We have used extra money to rent other pools instead of our own. Our budget is now completely out of control, due to the need for extra money in order to rent our excess pools. Many people who have moved in order to accommodate the position of our beloved Swim Center have found difficulties driving to new pools under the circumstances. The journey to Independence High takes 30 minutes to one hour on average–every day!
“It’s clear that driving to Independence daily is no hard feat,” said an anonymous swimmer of the Club. “My parents are just so tired, having to also balance work-related business along with driving me to practice.”
For three months, the members of our club have waited anxiously for news of our pool. When will the heater be fixed? But as it is still under progress, it may soon prove that our city’s efforts may extend into the next school year. We may have a few extra hours to commute over the summer, but what of the approaching school days?
Still, an even greater threat sits right at our front door. Spending extra money in order to rent other pools has created a looming possibility that our pool may never regain its glory. The thought strikes fear in many people. If our Club breaks down due to this problem, our swimmers will have nowhere to go.
For all real-property owners residing in Santa Clara County, we pay a 0.85% effective property tax on average. The money we pay goes to the state to fund all public schools, parks, public safety procedures, roads, and other essential community needs. Our pool is one of them.
“We sincerely hope that the City of Santa Clara would take heed to our concerns and spend more time and effort using our money to repair the International Swim Center,” said the parent of a swimmer. “No pool? No dream.”
