HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-28-26 Public Comment - K. Larsen - Pools - Input for 10_6 meetingFrom:Kimberly Larsen
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Input for 10/6 meeting
Date:Monday, September 28, 2026 3:59:38 PM
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Dear City Commission: I was recently informed by the Barracuda Board of Directors that the
City is seeking community input on future needs, including aquatics. I have been a part of the
Bozeman swim community for 30 years and I am the parent of two competitive swimmers.
Pool accessibility in Bozeman has never been easy and the last 7 years have been particularly
difficult. I am excited that the City is looking to possibly include aquatics in the community
priorities. An aquatics facility can be such an amazing community benefit allowing community
members to connect and access a relatively inexpensive healthy activity.
Before investing in a new facility, however, I strongly encourage the City to maximize the use
of the facility we already have. The Bozeman Swim Center currently has no weekend hours.
Bozeman has two large and active high school swim teams that are unable to host home
competitions. Last winter, I believe the high school teams traveled to Great Falls as many as
five times to compete. I feel sad that my daughters watch their friends compete in their sports
at home knowing that they will never get that same opportunity. Reinstalling a bulkhead
would allow the pool to accommodate 25 yard competitions and would provide a tremendous
benefit to our local swimming community.
If the city considers a new center, I believe the community could be best served with a 8 lane,
25 yard competition pool. In addition, the community would benefit from some sort of
recreation space with a smaller, shallower pool with slides. Something similar to the YMCA in
Butte or the Scheels AIM high aquatic center in Great Falls would greatly benefit our
community.
I believe the time to address Bozeman’s aquatics needs is now; arguably, it is long overdue.
There are so many community members ranging from young children to folks well into
retirement that utilize the one and only public facility we have. There is not enough hours to
accommodate all the needs.
My own children may graduate from high school before a new facility becomes a reality, but
this issue is much bigger than my family. Bozeman has a growing and active swimming
community that needs adequate access to aquatics. I strongly encourage the City to both
explore a long term investment in a new facility and, in the meantime, maximize the current
facility by expanding its hours and reinstalling a bulkhead so our local swimmers can once
again compete at home.
Thank you for everything that you do! Kim Kusak