Parents in Asheville Frustrated by Limited Options for Swimming Lessons
Residents of Asheville have expressed their concerns over the limited access to swimming lessons for children. Long waiting lists, lack of swim facilities and inadequate class timings are some of the main issues forcing parents to voice their frustration.
A local Asheville mother, Amanda Wilde, reveals her disappointment surrounding the lack of available swimming lessons. She said, “You’re just not able to give your kids any kind of freedom because they don’t have anywhere to learn. It’s important to learn how to swim, and I would love to see more interest in it and not treating it just like it’s some luxury item.”
Recent Pool Closures Add to the Issue
Further exacerbating the situation is the recent closure of several pool facilities in the region. Asheville’s outdoor pool in Malvern Hills Park remains shut for maintenance, while major financial concerns have forced the Asheville chapter of YWCA to temporarily close its pool, one of the few indoor pools in the city.
Diana Sierra, CEO of the YWCA of Asheville, emphasized the significance of pool access, stating, “There is a significant need for pool access for all members of our community.”
Need for an Indoor Aquatics Facility
During the city’s updated comprehensive recreation plan, Recreate Asheville, the need for an indoor aquatic facility was ranked high among the public’s interests. Previous iterations of the plan from 1998 and 2009 also revealed similar input from city residents.
With the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing drowning as the leading cause of death for kids between the ages of 1-4 in the United States, and endorsing formal swimming lessons as a preventive measure, the scarcity of swimming lessons in Asheville poses a serious problem. The CDC also underscored the physical and mental health benefits of water-based exercises.
Year-Round Options Lacking
While the City of Asheville offers summer swimming lesson sessions at its outdoor pools in Recreation Park in East Asheville and Dr. Wesley Grant Sr. Southside Community Center, the offerings are far from adequate. Wilde believes the one week of lessons over the summer does not make much of an impact, as “your kids tend to forget everything they learned over the winter” leaving said lessons to start from scratch each summer.
While Buncombe County offers swimming lessons at five outdoor pools over the summer, its indoor Buncombe County Schools Aquatics Center, despite being a $6.25 million facility, does not offer lessons to the general public. The center mainly caters to local school, high school, and private school swim teams, as well as for community rentals.
Private Lessons: Expensive and Difficult to Secure
Wealthier parents are sometimes able to secure lessons for their children with private instructors, but they find this not only difficult but also very expensive. Leah Carpenter, a mother of two boys, shared her experience, stating that constant difficulty securing slots with a qualified instructor due to their non-availability, only added to her hassles.
Due to the shortage of swim instructors, organizations that offer swimming lessons, both public and private, are sympathizing with the concerns of parents and looking for possible solutions.
Staff Shortages and the Need for Funding
The YMCA of WNC, the biggest provider of swimming lessons in Asheville, is working towards cross-training employees to address the shortage of swim instructors. However, this is only a temporary solution; unless more public pools — especially indoor pools — are opened in Asheville, this issue is unlikely to be resolved.
For as long as these challenges persist in Asheville, parent’s frustrations over the lack of swimming lessons will continue. It’s a stark reminder of the importance of accessibility and delivery of fundamental life skills to the younger generation in the community.
