To the editor:
Re: "PNE ditches report card passes for easier access," Aug. 17.
The traditional bonus of receiving a pass to the PNE summer fair in a child's end-ofyear report card has been eliminated, but the good news is that up to five children under age 13 will get free admission with every single paying adult. If only our public institutions could be as enterprising. A few years ago, an idea was floated by outdoor swimming pool advocates to park board to put two free swim passes in each child's final report card to use over the summer months. The rationale was that an initial visit might encourage the children to return to the pools more often or at the very least get each child to a swimming pool twice, perhaps in the company of a paying adult. That idea never took off. If the City of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»were to focus more on the health benefits of public sports and recreation opportunities and market them appropriately, we would be increasing our recreational infrastructure as opposed to eliminating them as in the case of our outdoor swimming pools, which have now all been demolished except for the three waterfront swimming pools. Should we encourage children to get out and swim before it is too late? Summer is almost over. The public has until Aug. 31 to visit vancouver. ca and provide feedback on the draft capital plan and ensure access to outdoor summer swimming for inner city youth.
Margery Duda
Vancouver
