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endorsements

New Endorsements

Bellevue Family YMCA

“It is apparent that pool resources on the Eastside are limited and most of the available pools have reached or exceeded capacity. In light of this, the board and staff of the Bellevue Family YMCA express our strong support for the development of an aquatics center on the Eastside. The youth and families in our community need it.”

—Terry Pollard, Group Executive, Bellevue Family YMCA

Northwest Spine & Sports Physicians, P.C.

“As a physician who specializes in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and as the co-chief editor of the authoritative textbook on aquatic rehabilitation, I am a strong advocate for providing this medical service to Bellevue residents.”

—Andrew James Cole, M.D.

Bellevue Community College

“We wholly endorse the concept of a multipurpose auatics center, and anticipate a large portion of the student body participating in competitive and recreational as well as academic activies.”

—Marcus Sweetser, ASG Campus Events and Athletics Representative

Bellevue School District No. 405

“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of Directors of the Bellevue School District No. 405, King County, Washington, herby states its support for the planning and development of a swim center that will serve the community at large and the District's students and families and for cooperative efforts toward that end.”

—Judy Bushnell, President, et al.

Healthcare and Fitness Providers

InnerWaves

“Aquatic therapy facilities are needed that include collaborative services to define a center for social movement and healing.”

—Tom Cobian, L.M.P., C.W.P., Owner

Olympic Physical Therapy

“This is a much-needed facility for the community. The severe pool shortage affects schools, swim teams, waterpolo, diving, disabled population bases.”

—Lori Mock, P.T., A.T.C., and Manager

Community Integration Services

“We need more warm water and accessible pools!”

—Harriett Ott, Owner

Aquarobics, Inc.

“There is never enough water!!”

—Susie Sather, Owner

Sylvia's Swimwear, Inc.

—Scott Powell, President

Read the Sylvia's Swimwear endorsement letter.

American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness

“There is a drain on swimming and diving talent in the northwest. Why is it that states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and California should get the credit for swimmers and divers who got their start in the Pacific NW but had to leave town to take their craft to the next level? We desperately need an aquatic facility for training and competition in all of these sports and it would be nice to keep our local talent at home (rather than send them to a part of the country that has better facilities). A facility for rehabilitation would also be an asset to the community. A year-round facility that creates an opportunity for children and families to engage in healthy physical activity should be built to offset all the Nintendo and Xbox systems that come out of this area.”

—Steve Anderson, M.D., former Chairman, and Seattle Magazine's “Top Doctor” in Pediatric Sports Medicine, Sept. 2006

Competitive Swimming and Diving Programs

Pacific Northwest Swimming

“The Pacific Northwest Swimming community thanks SPLASH for your efforts that recognize the need for such a long course facility located in the greater Eastside.”

—Andy Hathaway, PNS General Chair

Read the PNS endorsement letter.

Mercer Island High School

“A project of this magnitude will help strengthen aquatic sports on the Eastside and beyond for years to come.”

—Jeff Lowell, Head Coach

Newport High School

“Bellevue schools need a facility for their aquatic teams. The teams should not have to rely on facilities outside of the city and school district for practice, meets, and games.”

—Eric Bartleson, Newport High School Swim Coach and King County 3A League “2006 Coach of the Year”

Bellevue High School

“The greater Eastside area is in huge need of a state of the art aquatics facility. Currently three of the four Bellevue-area high schools train outside year round. With no place to host meets in Bellevue we are forced to host meets at Juanita High school at 8:00 pm.”

—Cory Hildebrand, Bellevue High Swim Coach

iswimUSA, Pacific Northwest Diving

“Our dedication to the sport of diving is second to none and our vision for diving in Washington is only limited to the 'lack of pool' availability. We have always had a strong foothold in diving on the Eastside (at Odle pool, Bellevue Club, and Issaquah pool). We have had over 100–150 Eastside divers training with us per month with continued demand for more coaches and more pool time. With the support of the Bellevue Parks Department and the aquatics division, Pacific Northwest Diving would love to come and train full time in Bellevue; just show us the way to the new pool!”

—Patti Southerland, Coach/Owner

Chinook Aquatic Club

“This area is the strongest aquatics location in the state. Now it would have a facility to support/promote that base.”

—Jack Ridley, Coach

Bellevue Club Swim Team

“Since my arrival to the Bellevue area (1973) there have been a number of projects designed to bring another public swimming pool to Bellevue. SPLASH is not the first such effort. I managed the Bellevue District Pool from 1973–1976; even at that time we were unable to meet the demand for swim lessons, let alone all the other aquatic activities. Thirty-plus years later, with substantial population growth, Bellevue still has only the one public facility. I'm confident further study will show that the demand for the proposed facility exists. Considering that at some point in the future a decision will be made to finally build a pool, it may be fiscally prudent to build it sooner than later!

— Klaas Schenk, Head Coach

Issaquah Swim Team

“The Eastside is desperately in need of new water to serve the needs of competitive and recreational swimmers. Our kids need a facility to learn. Our high schools need a place to compete. Competitive swim clubs need an event (large meet) venue. Families need a pool [in order to] recreate together. The need is vital, apparent, and long overdue.”

KING Aquatic Club

“KING fully endorses the expansion of aquatics facilities in the Pacific Northwest. The improvement and expansion of aquatic facilities on the Eastside will provide outstanding youth and family fitness opportunities in communities where current aquatics facilities cannot keep up with demand and support a local competitive swimming environment that is among the nation's best in both participation and performance.”