HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-02-26 Public Comment - L. Rosolowsky - I support enhanced aquatic services in BozemanFrom:Lori Rosolowsky
To:Bozeman Public Comment
Subject:[EXTERNAL]I support enhanced aquatic services in Bozeman
Date:Friday, October 2, 2026 4:18:57 PM
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Dear City Commissioners:
Thank you for inviting the public to comment.
I strongly support enhanced aquatic services in Bozeman.
1. Swimming is a public health necessity
It is the only physical activity that can be done by infants through 100-year-olds
at the same time.
Drowning is an avoidable hazard. All children and adults should have the
opportunity to learn to swim or learn skills to save each other. Montanans love
their lakes and rivers. A pool is where they learn to survive them.
Swimming is one of the few sports that can be done when injured and to
expedite healing.
Swimming is a community activity, helping heal the loneliness epidemic, the
depression and anxiety epidemic, and the suicide epidemic. Swimming was
THE THING that helped me navigate a severe depression when I moved here
10 years ago and it is how I fight mental health challenges. My swim community
has become my community; we support each other outside of the pool through
death, divorce and illness.
Swimming can be done year-round, when other sports are less accessible due
to weather.
Swimming is recommended for all people. Even asthmatics swim. A lot of them
are on our masters team.
2. The most cost-effective enhancement would be to increase the days and hours
that our current Swim Center is available. We have a beautiful 50 meter pool that
is vastly underutilized.
The hours available for lap and public swim are limited. A pool like this should
be open from 5 am to 8pm M-F and perhaps 9am to 5 pm on weekends. The
cost of lifeguards and staff is minimal compared to the benefits as described
herein.
When one user group is using part of the pool, the rest of the pool is empty. Ex:
MWF 10 to 11:30am, the Masters rent 3 lanes while 5 lanes are unoccupied.
With lifeguards already there, why is this not open for other user groups?
Bozeman is growing exponentially. Accessibility to swimming needs to grow as
well.
3. Once maximum capacity is reached, we should invest in another pool.
A therapy pool or warm pool would be good for those learning to swim or as a
healing/recovery tool
Any new facility should be planned to maximize Bozeman's aquatic needs: the
50m pool can accommodate sanctioned meets; a second pool can serve the
community when the 50m is not available for them.
Thank you for considering these arguments as you evaluate how to best serve our
growing, thriving community.
Lori Rosolowsky. 267.221.0627Verge Theater, Director of Collaborative ProgramsLori Rosolowsky, Performer/Pianist Open Sky Artists, Owner