3-minute read
We’re only a couple of months into the new year, but it’s already shaping up to be a big year for swimming in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul is making access to public swimming pools a priority in 2024, which will finally give kids from urban environments access to more places to swim during the hot summer months.
The new NY SWIMS program, rolled out as part of Hochul’s Executive Budget proposal, would provide $150 million to address gaps in recreational swimming and invest in recruitment and training of lifeguards. Making pools accessible is a critical first step, but there’s more we can do to maximize the benefits of this program. Most importantly, we need to increase access to swim lessons.
Deaths by drowning have climbed to record-high levels in recent years. Drowning is now the most common cause of death for children ages one to four and the second most common cause of death for children between 5 and 14. Black youth face the highest risk, a shameful disparity that can be traced back to the days of segregation.
Making swimming lessons accessible for everyone, especially New Yorkers who have faced systemic barriers to learning to swim in the past, is the most effective way to keep our kids safe in these revitalized and new pools. Participating in formal swim lessons reduces the drowning risk for young children between the ages of one and four by 88 percent, and ensuring their older siblings and parents understand water safety further reduces risk for everyone.
Just as important, swimming is a valuable life skill that builds young people’s confidence and opens doors to opportunities later in life — including dozens of potential career paths.
Right now, the YMCA is partnering with Community Offshore Wind, an offshore wind developer, to provide free swimming lessons over 10 years for 100,000 kids in disadvantaged communities across New York.
Offshore wind energy is on track to create thousands of jobs for New Yorkers. These jobs are good-paying, union positions that provide tremendous opportunity for workers, but because they involve working on turbines far out at sea, swimming is a necessary pre-requisite. By working with us to offer these lessons, Community Offshore Wind is not only building fundamental safety skills for our kids, but setting them up to pursue the next generation of jobs in a fast-growing industry.
And those careers reach farther than offshore wind. Jobs as varied as marine biology, marine engineering, naval architects and more require swimming as a basic skill — one that is often overlooked throughout the rest of the education pipeline.
Governor Hochul’s new initiative is going to make it possible for communities across the state to once again have access to safe, modern pools. But we have the opportunity to take this program much farther. In its current form, NY SWIMS will offer funding for municipalities and state parks. Currently, 84% of YMCA locations in New York serve disadvantaged communities, and many of these neighborhoods include community pools. By expanding this program to support YMCAs, Jewish Community Centers and other facilities, we’ll ensure that the benefits of this program will be felt by every New Yorker.
Everyone should feel safe in the water. I’m thrilled that Hochul and Mayor Eric Adams have made swimming access a priority this year, and by working together, we can make sure that this program empowers our children and neighbors to pursue tremendous opportunities.
Kyle Stewart is executive director of Alliance of New York State YMCAs.