Burbank awarded $7,000 grant for swim classes, events

The Burbank City Council on Tuesday approved a grant that will help offset the cost of swimming classes, lifeguard lessons and competitive swim events for local youth this summer.

For the third consecutive year, the city was awarded $7,000 from the LA84 Foundation.

Established with surplus money from the 1984 Summer Olympics, the LA84 Foundation has donated millions to youth sports programs across Southern California since 1985, according to the organization.

Of this year’s $7,000 grant, $5,023 will support 45 part-time, seasonal staff members who will attend to locker rooms, coach swim lessons, team sports or life-guarding classes, according to the city.

About $1,700 will offset the cost of water polo nets, balls, stopwatches, buoys and swim caps. And nearly $300 will provide for staff shirts and hats.

But the financial help isn’t expected to last much longer.

“When the economy was doing well, the money that was in the foundation grew,” said Marisa Garcia of Burbank’s Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department. “We know that in the next few years, the funding will not be there any longer.”

The grant allows for the city to accommodate an additional 300 youth on top of the 1,800 children the program serves who range in age from 7 to 17.

The pools at McCambridge Recreation Center and Burbank High School will host fitness classes, swim classes, water polo classes and lifeguard lessons six days a week in five summer sessions that span from June 4 to Aug. 10.

The McCambridge pool will also open to the public for general use and lap swimming from 5:30 to 7:15 a.m., and in the evening until 8 p.m.

“It’s open to anyone who wants to come and play and hang out at the pool,” Garcia said.

Classes at Burbank High School will take place from 8 a.m. to noon.

Roughly 32,000 people are expected to participate in pool activities this summer.

This summer, there are plans in the works for “Teen Night” at the pool for high school and middle school students, and a “water carnival” for youth.

At the summer’s end, before the pool is drained in August for maintenance, the city will invite people to bring their dogs to swim in the McCambridge pool in what’s being billed as a “Doggie Splash.”