URGENT: Speak Up Before Hermosa Rules Out a Swimming Pool
This is a critical moment for a community swimming pool for Hermosa Beach. We need you to speak up now. On September 1, the Hermosa Beach Parks & Recreation Commission will consider creating an Aquatics Accessibility Subcommittee. That’s great news — except the proposal as currently written specifically eliminates exploring whether a pool could be built in Hermosa Beach.
That means we could create a committee to solve our swimming-access problem while ruling out a potential solution before the research even begins! And the truth is, there's just not enough lanes in the Beach Cities, so it's unlikely a real solution will be found. Current and former City Council members and Parks & Recreation commissioners we’ve spoken to questioned why Parks and Rec would place this kind of unusual restriction on a subcommittee. Why create a group to investigate solutions, then tell them which solutions they aren't allowed to investigate? Especially because the Hermosa Pool Initiative has invitations and leads to land donations and funding sources, so there are potential solutions out there, if the City were to engage. So, please...
WE NEED YOU TO EMAIL THE CITY TODAY.
To: hbconnect@hermosabeach.gov
CC: dg_parksreccommission@hermosabeach.gov; citycouncil@hermosabeach.gov
Subject: Parks & Rec Aquatics Accessibility Subcommittee – September 1
Your message can be as simple as:
I strongly support creating the Aquatics Accessibility Subcommittee, but I ask that its scope NOT exclude exploring the feasibility of a pool in Hermosa Beach. Please allow the subcommittee to investigate all potential solutions, locations, partnerships and funding opportunities before ruling anything out.
If you can send your email before tomorrow/Tuesday night’s City Council meeting, please do.
And please show up September 1 for the Parks & Recreation Commission meeting. We need residents there in person to make clear that swimming access remains a priority. Parks and Rec is specifically looking for community voice - if you feel comfortable, please speak; if you don't, stand with us. Having a large group representing the demand makes a huge difference.
This is the moment to speak up. If you'd like to learn more, come to the Parks and Rec meeting and introduce yourself to one of the HPI leaders. We'd be happy to share what we've learned so far and talk about the opportunities we've uncovered.
Thank you for supporting this effort. Together, we can help create practical, financially responsible solutions that bring more swimming opportunities to the South Bay.
*Photo is of the new Gardena Aquatic Center. Hermosa Beach City Councilman, Ray Jackson, was there for the ribbon cutting. If Gardena can build it, so can we!