Celebrating your impact

Our SPLASHForward Vision Video found on YouTube

Enjoy our first TV commercial now airing on KCTS 9 (learn more in this newsletter).

Maintaining Momentum

This year, the SPLASHForward team has spent over 1,500 hours at meetings and public hearings advocating for the inclusion of a game-changing aquatic center to be included into the master plan for Bellevue Airfield Park. We have spent an equal amount of time connecting people with water safety resources, learn-to-swim classes and lifeguard training. We’ve partnered with multiple organizations to facilitate the expansion of water safety resources, and we are building the largest aquatics stakeholder coalition our community has ever seen. None of this important work would be possible without people like you.

2023 is going to be a banner year for SPLASHForward. For the past five years, we have existed as a volunteer run organization, but the volume of our efforts has grown beyond what our dedicated team can reasonably handle. So that we can best meet the needs of our community, we are growing our organization and hiring paid staff members to drive our work for the first time. This means that generous support from our community is going to be more important than ever.

Support us Today!

SPLASHForward has been awarded $15,000 from King County Parks for our Introduction to Aquatics & Water Safety summer camp

We are excited to announce our first grant award! In early November, SPLASHForward was awarded $15,000 from King County to expand our summer camp and partnerships with Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Rainier Athletes, WA State Boating, and Samena Recreation and Swim Club. We are grateful for this opportunity from King County’s Healthy Communities and Parks Fund and our partners. This support will enable us to provide life-saving water safety education to 25 students, and to collaboratively solve the swim instructor gap which caused learn to swim waitlists of over a thousand people and limited programming at local pools this summer.

If you would like to help SPLASHForward maintain our momentum in our work to build healthier, stronger, and safer communities by creating equitable access to aquatic facilities and programs that build essential life skills, please click here to make your tax deductible donation today.

With the holiday lights bringing brightness and joy, we are excited to share with you a few recent bright spots of our own. Be sure to read our 2022 bright spots article below!

Warmest wishes to you and your family as you celebrate the holidays!

With graciousness and gratitude,

Susan Pappalardo

Co-Founder, President

SPLASHForward

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Joy & Light

SPLASHForward's Bright Spots

We celebrate our 2022 shining moments that guide us on our path ahead for 2023. We look forward to having you join us on this journey.

Read article

Bellevue City Council Weighs In - December 5th

Strong Support

City Council voiced strong support for an aquatic center in the master plan for Bellevue Airfield Park. Next step is a third community meeting in January. We strongly encourage you to attend and share your voice of support! More details coming soon!

Learn more & stay tuned in

Watch highlights (4 min)

Our First Grant Award - $15,000 from King County Parks

Introduction to Aquatics and Water Safety Summer Camp

Last August, we held our first summer camp with twelve middle school students with little to no swim skills with the goal to not only improve their swim skills, but build water safety knowledge and confidence around water. We are thankful for our strong and continued partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Rainier Athletes, Samena Recreation & Swim Club, and WA State Boating. Our King County grant award allows us to double the number of students we serve in 2023, provide paid opportunities for students, and include support for parents.

Watch our students...

Learning to dive

Being introduced to water polo

What will you remember most about the camp?

"I will remember the fun I had with the people in this camp."

Campers rated the camp 4.5 out of 5 stars

100% said they improved their swimming skills and confidence

Our first TV commercial on KCTS 9

As a proud sponsor of KCTS 9's new Out & Back show hosted by Alison Mariella Desir our first ever TV commercial is now live. Alison is an activist, runner, and strong voice sharing hers and others stories here in the PNW to reclaim space in the outdoors and build greater access for our black and brown community. Watch for our commercial and catch Out & Back on Thursday evenings at 8:50pm on KCTS 9!

City of Kirkland - Site Exploration & Parks Measure Planning

Parks Funding & Exploratory Committee Update

At the end of October, the Parks Funding and Exploratory Committee, on which SPLASHForward sits, received an update on the Recreation and Aquatic Center Feasibility Study. Four sites were explored with 'test fit analysis' done for the three different size and scope aquatic centers. After committee input, Parks recommended that the top two preferred sites, Houghton Park & Ride and North Kirkland Community Center, move forward with further feasibility study for two possible different size and scope aquatic centers. City council approved.

Building our knowledge foundation is still underway as the committee learns all about operations of the City of Kirkland Parks, the recent PROS plan, park and city budgets, WA State property tax and levies and bonds. The committee will receive a tour of Sammamish Community & Aquatic Center in January and begin discussions for what should be included in a potential November 2023 parks measure and how best to package it. Ultimately the committee will make a recommendation to city council in February.

Learn more

We believe aquatics unites us, makes our communities stronger, and that public aquatic facilities improve our health and well being.

#StrongerTogether

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