| Written by Sentinel News Service, on 06-25-2009 00:00 |
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OPENING OF THE NEW JACKIE TATUM AQUATIC CENTER
More than 30 seasonal aquatic facilities in the City of Los Angeles are now open
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa--joined by City Councilman Bernard Parks and representatives of Kaiser Permanente--kicked off the summer pool season with the opening of the pool and water-slide at the newly renovated Jackie Tatum (Harvard) Recreation Center in South Los Angeles.
Named after the first African-American and first woman to be General Manager of Parks and Recreation, the pool is dedicated to the memory of Jackie Tatum and her life-long advocacy for recreation centers accessible to all Angelenos.
"Jackie Tatum devoted her life to this because she understood that pools are not just a place to cool down during the hot summer months," Mayor Villaraigosa said. "They're an oasis from the streets where children can learn to swim, meet new friends, begin the life-long habit of regular exercise and hold their first summer job as a lifeguard."
As part of the Mayor's office Summer Nights Light Program, the Jackie Tatum (Harvard) Recreation Center will be open on until 8pm every night along with other parks in the most gang-ridden neighborhoods.
Also, there were will additional activities offered until midnight Wednesday through Saturday from July 8, 2009 until September 5th, 2009.
Last year, Summer Night Lights helped to record the City's safest summer in more than 30 years.
The Jackie Tatum Pool is also part of "Operation Splash," a program provides free swim classes to over 6,000 youth and their parents at 28 pools in low-income communities citywide. Sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the program also provides junior lifeguard classes for an additional 700 youth. By the end of this fourth year of the Operation
Splash Partnership, Kaiser Permanente will have donated a cumulative $1.7 million in community benefit funds to the City.
The City's 33 other seasonal pools will open the first day of summer, June 20, through Labor Day, and are free for seniors, people with disabilities and youth. In addition, 16 year-round pools will begin their summer schedule. The charge for adults ages 18-64 will be $2.50; those who have a City Library Card will pay $2.
For other aquatic activities, including lap, recreational, and adaptive swimming, and group lessons that are not covered by Operation Splash, the hours, what programs are offered, and registration requirements vary by site. Seasonal pools will be open daily through Labor Day, which is Monday, September 7.
Resident can contact their nearest pool, or the Department's Aquatics Section at (323) 906-7953, for more information and assistance Individual pool brochures can be viewed and downloaded at www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/aquatic.htm. Last update: 06-24-2009 16:06
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