ITS LONG PAST TIME TO RESTORE OUR VICTORY PARK POOL
February 28, 2020

Dear Mayor Tubbs, Councilmember Jobrack, Vice Mayor Wright, Councilmember Canepa, Councilmember Lenz, Councilmember Fugazi, Councilmember Andrade,

The Victory Park Pool must be restored for the residents of our Victory Park neighborhood as well as all Stockton residents. The current situation of neglect and disrepair is unacceptable. It has been 10 + years since our beautiful park pool has been available during the hot, 100 degree Summer swimming months.

The 2016 Envision Stockton workshops clearly showed how important our Victory Park neighborhood pool is to Stockton residents. Neighborhood residents made it clear with charts, sticky notes, and verbal opinions that the Victory Park Pool is at the top of the list for a healthy neighborhood.

The importance of swimming in the lives of children and adults is many:

#1. Physical and Health Safety:
Statistics show that in the United States the average number PER YEAR of accidental drownings is 3,536 deaths. Every Stockton child and adult should have access to a swimming pool and swim lessons. In addition all people young and old need exercise to thrive. Childhood and adult obesity and diabetes are directly correlated with a lack of healthy exercise.

#2. Mental Health:
Human beings are social beings. Humans thrive on community and enjoy a sense of belonging. Swimming can provide opportunities to make friendships plus chances to build self esteem and pride in one's self. Children and adults learn tolerance, fair play and human kindness through community interactions.

#3 Equity and Open Doors:
Having access to a neighborhood pool is an equity and social justice issue. Not all families can afford to pay for swim club memberships. The nearest local pools are located more than an hour bus ride away from our Victory Park neighborhood.

Now that the voter-approved Measure M funds (Strong Communities Initiative) are in place, it is time to move forward and do what is right for ALL Stockton residents. This Victory Park Pool delay continues to be a blight on our neighborhood and the city of Stockton.

We will not rest until our Victory Park Pool is on the list of city projects. Our neighborhood deserves to be Someplace Special. Step up Stockton City Council. Victory Park Pool has been on the "waiting list" for far too long.

Help us reach 1,000 signatures by March 23, 2020 for the upcoming City of Stockton Parks and Recreation Commission Meeting on March 23 at City Hall at 5:30pm where important items will be discussed; Victory Park NEEDS ITS POOL BACK!

Your Constituents,