SUMMER IS OFFICIALLY HERE!!!!

Summer Swim Season 2011 & Operation Splash Kick-Off

Los Angeles - Summer is here.......let the SWIMMING begin!!!! Throw on your swim suits and apply the sunscreen!! The first week of summer has brought warm temperatures and with that comes the start of the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks' summer swim season and Operation Splash!!

Recreation and Parks celebrated the kick-off of the 2011 Summer Swim Season and Operation Splash at Downey Pool on Friday, June 24, 2011. Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Councilmember Ed P. Reyes (First District), Kaiser Permanente's Vice President of Public Affairs Diana Bonta, LA84 Foundation's Vice President of Grants and Programs Patrick Escobar and community members were all on hand to help cut the blue ribbon and make the first splash of the 2011 swim season.

The kick-off celebration marked the opening of the Department's seasonal pools (outdoor locations only opened during the summer months) and the beginning of Operation Splash and LA84 scholarships and sponsorships.

The Department of Recreation and Parks is partnering for the sixth straight year with Kaiser Permanente for Operation Splash. For the 2011 summer, the Department received a 265,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Southern California that will fund free swim lessons for 6,000 low-income youth and adults at 35 pools across the City. The program will also support free junior lifeguard training for 780 low-income youth at 49 city pools and extend the summer swim season for one week at seven locations serving about 10,000 pool patrons.

Over the last 26 years, the LA84 Foundation has consistently assisted the City's efforts to provide Los Angeles youth with access to quality sports programs. For 2011 summer, 1,200 youth will benefit from a generous grant provided by LA84. An $85,000 grant from the Foundation will provide scholarships for free swim lessons and sponsorships for participation in a competitive sport team, such as swimming, diving, water polo and synchronized swimming.

The Department's 35 seasonal pool locations officially opened on Saturday, June 25 and will remain open through the end of August. Seasonal pools offer morning and afternoon public swim sessions. Additionally, 16 year-round pools began their summer schedule and offer afternoon and evening swim sessions to the general public.

Sign-ups for Operation Splash and LA84 scholarships/sponsorships will began on Sunday, June 26 at participating locations and are provided on a first-come first-serve basis. A low-income verification form must be filled out by parents/guardians at the time of registration. For a full list of participating locations visit www.laparks.org/dos/aquatic/aquatic.htm or call (323) 906-7953.

The City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks' Aquatic Division offers a variety of water activities, including recreational swimming, water awareness, adaptive swimming, Team Sports, Junior Lifeguard program and water exercise. For the 13th consecutive year, children age 17 or younger, seniors 65 or older and the disabled can swim for FREE at all City pools. Children ages 3-6 must be potty-trained and accompanied by an adult at all times; children under the age of 3 must wear a swim diaper. The charge for adults ages 18-64 is $2.50; those with a City library card will pay $2.

For more information call the Department's Aquatic Division at (323) 906-7953 or e-mail Citywide.Aquatics@lacity.org.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrea Epstein, 213.202.2690

BLOG CONTACT: Amy A. Garcia, 818.243.6488