To:  Durham City Council, Durham City Manager, and the Director, Durham Parks and Recreation

We the undersigned join with the Durham Area Masters Aquatics swim club Board in urging you to cease the Durham Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) policy requiring clear bags in recreation centers.

As of May 15th, DPR is requiring swimmers and other community members using pools to bring swim gear, clothes, toiletries and other personal items in a  clear or mesh bag.  While DPR has indicated this policy is a “safety and security” measure, the department has not provided the community with detailed information on why this policy was created or what other options were considered for making the facilities safe and secure. 

We are concerned about how this policy will impact the Durham aquatics community. We are concerned that DPR enacted this policy with little notice and without any feedback from affected swimmers, as well as the broader community.

Below are our specific concerns illustrating why this policy is not only ineffective but will create significant barriers to residents accessing community pools and recreational facilities.  

Safety & Security

The clear bag policy does not meaningfully address safety concerns at Durham Parks and Recreation pools and instead creates new security risks.  

• Experts have stated publicly that clear bag policies are not evidence-based and do not make public environments safer, and transfer the burden (financial and otherwise) away from leadership and onto the population the government has a responsibility to protect. 
• It does not prevent someone concealing a weapon inside an article of clothing or towel. 
• It is unclear who will be checking our items, such as our own towels, clothes, and personal items, in our swim bags. This policy leaves significant room for interpretation by front desk staff, leading to likely inconsistent guidelines for residents.  
• Members of the DAMA swim club have raised significant concerns regarding leaving personal property in cars–a clear bag policy may likely lead to increased risk of car burglaries in DPR parking lots. Morning swimmers previously could bring in valuable items in their bags, such as work laptops, and now can no longer swim before going to other activities because they cannot safely leave these items in their cars. This is a serious security concern, given just a few months ago there was a slew of car break-ins in a residential Durham neighborhood. Car burglaries have also been happening on city property, including more than a third of Durham fire stations experiencing personal vehicle break-ins within the last year.

Personal Privacy

Durham residents have a right to keep personal items private and avoid embarrassment. 

• Swimmers of all ages carry swim gear, changes of clothes, and personal hygiene items to shower at the pool. 
• All swimmers change clothes after swims, as DPR safety policies prohibit wet suits outside the locker room. This is a critical distinction from users of other recreation center facilities. 

Financial Burden & Accessibility

Swimming already faces significant challenges with inclusivity and accessibility.  Lower-income swimmers will be disproportionately impacted by  costs of buying clear or mesh bags to hold their clothes and gear. 

• The Durham Area Masters Aquatics (DAMA) Board surveyed members and found that 50% of respondents are financially burdened by this new policy and it would impact their ability to access the pool. 
• Logically, these findings can be extended to other swimmers in Durham. For example, this new policy will also likely financially burden the families with children on Durham high school swim teams who require use of Campus Hills and Edison Johnson during their seasons. 
• In this economy where every dollar matters, messaging from DPR that clear bags are affordable and easily purchased is offensive and demeaning to the real financial challenges facing Durham families. 

• Policies from Durham Parks and Recreation should not make swimming less financially accessible to our Durham Community.

Swim Logistics

Swim users, particularly swim athletes, must have the ability to use the proper equipment at DPR pools. The currently posted exemption for “aquatics bags” does not provide enough clarity to ensure swim athletes can use their needed equipment.

• There are no aquatics or swim  swim bags that are made of clear plastic. No swim company sells anything like this, as it is impractical for swimming. Clear bags are not breathable, and any wet or slightly damp items are more likely to mold. Swim gear should not be stored in this type of bag. 
• Although  mesh bags are posted as an approved bag type,  these mesh bags are designed to be used for swim gear that is used in the pool, like fins, pull buoys, and paddles. Many swimmers carry both a wet bag (mesh bag) and a dry bag. Dry bags specifically designed to hold swim equipment and wet suits are essential for swim athletes. 
• Swim bags designed for athletes are  made specifically for the needs of swimmers, similar to specialized gear for snorkeling, which is exempt from this policy. The bags we have been instructed to purchase do not meet the needs of swim athletes. 

Environmental Impact

Many swimmers already have gear bags. 

• Requiring the purchase of a new bag, particularly one made of plastic, is a waste of resources. 
• These bags are also not designed for everyday use with swimming and will have to be repurchased frequently as they wear out due to exposure to chlorine. 

Testimonial: 

"The Sea Dragons Swim Team is very concerned about the impact of the Clear Bag Policy. As a coach, parent, and a swimmer myself, I have serious accessibility concerns regarding the policy's impact on neurodivergent and special needs swimmers. Many of the children on my team, including my own children, are autistic, ADHD, and/or have sensory processing difficulties. The texture, sound, and feel of clear plastic bags can be genuinely distressing for these children (and adults with these disabilities as well). Children rely on specific bags that help them organize medical equipment, comfort items, medications, sensory tools, or adaptive gear. Requiring my families to switch to clear plastic bags creates an additional burden on families who are already stretched thin trying to help their children participate successfully in sports and community activities. 

We also have privacy and security concerns. Swim bags often contain clothing, undergarments, hygiene products, medications, keys, wallets, phones, and other personal belongings. Many of my swimmers — especially my pre-teens and teenagers — are uncomfortable having those items visible to strangers. 

Finally, I am concerned this policy creates theft risk, as these bags will make valuables visible while swimmers are in the water and unable to monitor their belongings."                                      -Stephanie Iraggi, Coach, Sea Dragons Swim Team

Thank you for reviewing our concerns. We want DPR facilities to be as safe as possible for all residents–however, we urge the City to cease this policy and instead review alternative safety measures that are evidence based, avoid placing financial burden on residents, and maintain Durhamites privacy and ability to use the facilities using their necessary equipment. 

Sincerely, 

The Undersigned 

Durham Area Masters Aquatics Board