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<br />JanuaI)' 7, 1995 <br />3025 Oak Creek Drive <br />Paris, TX 75462 <br /> <br />Mr. Dick Boots <br />Paris Parks Department <br />Paris. TX 75460 <br /> <br />I wish to express my support for the building of a public swimming pool in Paris. Texas. <br />Swimming should be encouraged for a wide variety of reasons. It is an excellent aerobic <br />exerdse for people of all sizes. shapes. and fitness levels. It is a lifetime sport enjoyed by <br />people of all ages. It lends itself well to both individual and team competitions in not <br />only speed swimming but synchronized swimming as well. The presence of a public <br />swimming pool would also help the YWCA. Red Cross, and many other groups to <br />decrease the nurnber of non-swimmers in our community. This would then help <br />decrease the number of drolM1ings each year in area lakes. And. of course, swimming is <br />fun! Wider access to swimming should be encouraged. <br /> <br />None of the school districts in Lamar County currently has a swim team. The schools do <br />not have the money to both construct a swimming pool and fund the program. With an <br />appropriately designed swimming pool in the community, it might soon become feasible <br />for one or more of the school districts to en dose the fadlity to permit year-round swim <br />training necessary for a successful program. <br /> <br />The community has already shown a strong interest in swimming. Aerofit, a local health <br />dub. has built an indoor four-lane swimming pool for aerobic workouts as well as fitness <br />and recreational swimming. The pool is adequate for Aerofits needs but is not widely <br />accessible co most people in Paris due to its expense. A private group of swimmers and <br />their parents have also organized a swim team that practices at Aerofit's pool. Again. the <br />pool is adequate but often too expensive for most people to utilize. I personally know of <br />several people who have been forced to quit the swim team due to its expense. The <br />presence of a public pool would dramatically open access to swimming instruction to <br />many other community members. <br /> <br />As a physidan. community leader, certified Red Cross swim coach. and father of four <br />swimmers. I feel uniquely qualified to state unequivocally that a public swimming pool <br />would be a wonderful asset to this community and would improve the quality of life for <br />folks of all ages in the Paris area. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Mft'/ <br /> <br />Steven J. Gifford, M.D. <br /> <br />