This week, Champaign Park District wrapped up a series of free swim lessons at Sholem Aquatic Center. The new initiative, called Project Swim, was established in partnership with Busey Bank to help bridge the gap of swim inequity among people of color in the Champaign community.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury or death for children ages 5-14. For Black Americans, children ages 5-9 drown at rates 2.6 times higher, and children ages 10-14 drown at rates 3.6 times higher.
Project Swim aimed to address barriers to swim lessons that some families may face by offering free, short-term lessons that covered swimming fundamentals. Free lessons were available to 80 children and 20 adults. However, Project Swim extended beyond the lessons themselves.
“One barrier to swim lessons is access to proper swim attire,” said Ryan Hays, Aquatics Manager at Champaign Park District. “We determined that, in addition to free lessons, we needed to offer free swimsuits and goggles in case some participants couldn’t purchase their own.”
Swimsuits for participants were donated by Kiefer Aquatics and Champaign Park District. Goggles were donated by the Sholem family.
“We are humbled to have been able to launch Project Swim this year and help so many children and adults access swim lessons for the first time,” said Sarah Sandquist, Executive Director of Champaign Park District. “Teaming up with community partners to make this happen has been a privilege, and we look forward to revisiting the program again next summer.”
Over 90 individuals signed up for Project Swim thanks to community organizations like First String and DREAAM distributing information about the program to area families.
Champaign Park District’s Project Swim program was sponsored by Busey Bank, the DICK’S Sporting Goods “Sports Matter” Grant, Kiefer Aquatics, and the Sholem family.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chelsea Norton
Director of Marketing & Development
Champaign Park District
217-819-3934
Chelsea.norton@champaignparks.org
