Let the people use the pool
April 19, 2016
Despite the olympic sized racing pool and the approach of summer, De Anza’s pool is only available to the swim team and to PE classes that involve swimming; the pool is closed to the public and to other students at all times. The college should, however, open the pool up to the public.
According to the school website, De Anza closed the pool to the public in 2006 over liability concerns, and hasn’t changed its policy since.
If they reversed this decision, the pool opening would have a lot of potential to bring in more money for the school.
Should De Anza begin to charge for access, even if they only admitted students, a great deal of revenue could be generated; this is a resource that must be utilized.
It’s not as though other local schools haven’t found ways around the issue of liability. Los Gatos High School opens its pool to the public during the summer, so that programs like the YMCA’s swimming lessons can be hosted in the facilities.
Outside of independant programs, the pool also has a small fee of $5 for swim time, so people can use the diving boards and do laps in the deep end.
While liability of injury in the facilities is a potential issue, liability release forms would clear the college of any wrongdoing in the event that someone is hurt.
If De Anza opened the facilities to the public and charged a similar fee for utilizing the pool outside of class and game days, then it would bring in much needed funding. That funding could go toward upkeep of the pool itself, or toward the campus as a whole.
