To the Editor:
As a long-time swimmer and member of Alameda Aquatic Masters, I urge our city to support the construction of a 50-meter aquatic center at Jean Sweeney Open Space. The advantages of a 50-meter pool extend far beyond mere size; it’s a matter of seasonal flexibility and long-term growth for our community.
A 50-meter pool provides the flexibility to run parallel programs simultaneously—whether it’s swim team practices, water polo games, swim lessons, or recreational programs. More importantly, it offers the capacity to adapt and meet the changing needs of our community, ensuring that as interests and participation shift, the facility can accommodate them all. A 30-meter pool with an activity pool simply can’t offer this same comprehensive versatility.
Cities such as Walnut Creek and Pleasanton, with similar populations, have proven that 50-meter pools work. Their designs accommodate competitive athletes, swim lessons, and seniors alike. Alameda deserves a facility that reflects our growing interest in aquatic sports and recreation.
Currently, local teams like the Alameda Gators and Neptunes Water Polo are forced to practice at inconvenient times and off-island locations due to a lack of lane space. A 50-meter pool would not only address these current limitations but also create the necessary room for these programs to grow and thrive. This space is critical for enabling our youth aquatic teams to expand, serve more youth, and enhance training schedules to support stronger competitive outcomes.
Moreover, a 50-meter pool would attract high-level competitions, such as regional and high school championship swim meets and water polo tournaments. These events would not only foster community pride but also draw visitors to Alameda, boosting the local economy in the process.
This facility would complement, not be a duplicate of, the existing competition and activity pools at Encinal and Alameda High Schools, which already accommodate high school athletics and shallow-water programs such as swim lessons and aqua classes. While these pools are owned by the Alameda Unified School District, there has been significant financial investment from the City of Alameda to build facilities that specifically cater to Recreation & Park programming. By investing in a 50-meter pool, we’ll ensure our city’s aquatic needs are met for years to come, without overlapping with current resources.
I encourage our community to look to the future and invest in a 50-meter aquatic center that will serve as a hub of recreation, competition, and community spirit.
Sincerely,
Drew Swartz
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