Long-time dream for aquatic center continues;
Discounted Swimming Lessons offered for local Kids
Speaking of swimming lessons for kids, what ever happened to the Eastman-Rush Foundation? People ask that all the time.
In the summer of 1972 two Carnation youths tragically drown in two separate incidents in the Snoqualmie Valley. John Eastman and Steve Rush were both athletes at Tolt High School. A local resident, named Ron Oldring came forward and said” It’s time to start a pool fund. Here is my $100 donation.” And from the grief their family and friends faced, a dream was born in the name of those two boys. A Board was formed for the Eastman-Rush Foundation and the efforts began to create a swimming pool facility for the community of Snoqualmie Valley. Weekly Bingo Games after several years raised $50,000. The sale of brick tiles , engraved with names that would be used to line the entrance for the new pool along with the Bingo games grew the sum to $100,000 in the 1980’s. Some of the money was spent on youth programs but fundraisers did continue.
In the early 1990’s, the Board hired a pool consultant , Don Cary& Associates, who conducted a feasibility study in the valley for a pool and recreation facility. A survey of 400 people showed a strong interest in the pool project with 93 % stating they would use the pool and 84% saying they would help pay for the pool. Presentations were made but sadly there was a rapid decline of funds and a loss of heart as disappointed volunteers dwindled.
In 1998, the Foundation, on the verge of collapse was infused with new board members who changed the name to Valley Recreation Association, in order to be more descriptive of the goals which was to provide a safe and healthy place for residents to learn swim instruction, and to enjoy games, events and exercise in the valley for Duvall, Carnation and Fall City residents, young and old alike. After a time, the governing board determined that it was no longer feasible to construct and maintain a facility with the resources they had available .
The board approached the YMCA in 2000 about putting the remaining $20,000. into an endowment fund. This fund was designated to foster water safety programs and to teach children to swim from the Valley area. As an endowment fund, the principal of the fund is never touched, and the interest earnings of about $1,000. per year, are to be used for swim lessons. The YMCA uses the earnings from the “Eastman-Rush Memorial Aquatics Endowment” to scholarship youths from the Snoqualmie Valley at the Northshore YMCA, located a short distance from the Woodinville Home Depot. Swim lessons are open for YMCA members and nonmembers and classes are available on a first come first serve basis. To see if your child qualifies for discounted lessons, call the Northshore YMCA to enroll before the summer season starts at the rivers and lakes. March 31 is the enrollment period for members and April 4th is enrollment for nonmembers. Call the Northshore YMCA for registration information at 425 485-9797.
The scholarship will be a blessing for some kids, but what about the other kids in the valley? A group of volunteers has been working for the past six months on a proposal to build an aquatic center to accommodate ALL the kids in the valley–and the community as well.
If you are interested in helping to make this dream a reality, contact: SnoValley Aquatic Center Interest Group/P.O. BOX 866/Duvall.WA.98019 or log onto the website
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