The City of Allentown has announced a joint initiative between the Allentown Department of Parks and Recreation, the Allentown Parknership, and River Crossing YMCA to provide free “Safety Around Water” lessons to all children enrolled in the City’s Summer Playground Program.
This announcement, timed with National Water Safety Month, is a targeted effort to expand water-literacy resources for Allentown families as swimming season approaches.
Summer Playground attendees will be transported to Mack Pool for lessons during their time in the program. These lessons will be in addition to the City’s “Safety Around Water” lessons that are offered during the summer to all residents at no cost.
“Every young person in Allentown deserves the opportunity to access water safely and confidently. Drowning remains the second leading cause of death for the age groups we serve through our summer playground program, which makes this work not only important but necessary,” said Lucinda Wright, Deputy Director of Parks and Recreation. “This program is an intentional effort to ensure that youth across our city have access to the Safety Around Water curriculum while removing barriers such as cost, access, and limited resources that too often prevent participation. The Department of Parks and Recreation is committed to creating meaningful impact through strong partnerships that deliver life-saving opportunities for families and youth across the City of Allentown.”
“Swimming is an essential life skill that too many of our city’s children have not been able to access. We and our donors are grateful for the opportunity to help the City and River Crossing YWCA deliver a vital program that could save lives and improve the health and well-being of Allentown’s young people,” said Simon Moore, chair of the Parknership.
The Allentown Parknership’s investment in the initiative was enabled by the Trexler Trust, individual donors and other sources, with additional support from ESSA Bank and the CNB Foundation.
Additional supporters of Allentown’s free summer Safety Around Water program include Ken Termini, Step Into Swim, CAI United Fund of the United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, and IronPigs Charities.
Register in the Summer Playground Program. Register in the “Safety Around Water” lessons. (Available to Allentown residents only.)
