SRP Partners with Aquatic Centers for Water Safety Program

Categories: CharityCommunityEvents/What's HappeningFestivalsNews

Children enhance their swimming skills through a water safety program at a local pool.

News Summary

Salt River Project is collaborating with local aquatic centers to provide free and low-cost swimming lessons for children, targeting low-income families. Starting in June, this initiative aims to enhance water safety and prevent drowning incidents in Arizona, addressing the state’s alarming drowning rates by ensuring access to essential swimming education.

PHOENIX – As summer approaches, Salt River Project (SRP) is teaming up with local aquatic centers to offer vital water safety resources to families in need. This collaborative initiative is designed to provide free and low-cost swimming lessons, ensuring that children acquire essential swimming skills that can help prevent the dangers of drowning or near-drowning incidents.

The program, which begins in June, will cater to children as young as six months old. It aims to equip them with swimming abilities and boost their confidence around water. Arizona has alarmingly one of the highest drowning rates in the nation, causing concern for community safety. In response, SRP has committed to improving safety and accessibility for swimming lessons, emphasizing that financial constraints should not hinder a child’s ability to learn how to swim.

Families who wish to enroll in the program are encouraged to contact participating aquatic centers directly to inquire about availability. The initiative particularly targets low-income participants by providing free or discounted lessons for income-qualifying families, thereby removing the financial barriers that often limit access to swimming education.

Participating Aquatic Centers:
Apache Junction Arizona: (480) 983-2181
City of Buckeye Aquatic Center: (623) 349-6390
Chandler Aquatics: 480-782-2764
Town of Gilbert Recreation Centers: (480) 503-6200
Mesa Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities: (480) 644-7529, aquatics@mesaaz.gov
City of Phoenix Aquatics: (602) 534-6587
City of Peoria Aquatics: (623) 773-7137, aquatics@peoriaaz.gov
Salvation Army Kroc Center: (602) 425-5054
Junior’s Swim School: (602) 753-6782, jrswimschools@gmail.com
Valley of the Sun YMCA: Contact details available on their website.

Julie Cordeiro, the owner of Junior’s Swim School, noted that SRP’s financial support enables children with special needs to participate in swimming lessons within an inclusive environment. This commitment to inclusivity strengthens the program, ensuring that all children can access critical life-saving skills.

SRP’s initiative addresses a pressing community issue; drowning is a leading cause of unintentional injury and death among children in Arizona. By facilitating these swimming lessons, SRP and the Valley aquatic centers aim to improve the safety of children and their families, fostering a culture of water safety and education.

Additionally, the collaboration with various aquatic centers across the Valley illustrates a robust community effort to make swimming education accessible to all, regardless of financial capability. The program not only promotes swimming skills but also instills lifelong habits of water safety, which can be vital in preventing tragic accidents.

With support from community organizations and businesses, this initiative showcases the power of collaboration in enhancing public safety. As families prepare for the summer, the availability of these lessons offers peace of mind, knowing that children will be better equipped to handle situations in and around water.

In conclusion, SRP’s partnership with Valley aquatic centers reflects a commitment to safeguarding children through essential swimming education. As the program rolls out this summer, it represents a significant step towards reducing drowning incidents and fostering a safer community for families in Arizona.