THE STORY OF
SWIM SAFE GIG HARBOR
Gig Harbor Families Speak Up for a Safe Place to Swim
In June 2021, Heather Maher, a mom and Gig Harbor resident of 14 years, posted on Facebook about the great need Gig Harbor has for a public aquatic center. Currently, there is no public pool in Gig Harbor. With the available pools in town either closed, requiring membership, or maxed out on their capacity, Heather posted how she could not find a place to take her kids to swim as a family. As Heather wrote, "I talk with so many other moms who say their kids DON'T know how to swim, and yet our city is surrounded by water." With over 800 families on a waiting list for a local professional swim school, it was no surprise that this post about the need for a public pool took off!
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Sarah Stancikas, a fellow Gig Harbor mom (and who was Heather's daughter's preschool teacher!) quickly messaged her support for the need for a public pool in Gig Harbor. Sarah grew up in Gig Harbor and is a Harbor Ridge and PHS graduate. She too, has struggled with finding a place to help her two children learn how to swim. Heather and Sarah joined forces together as co-leaders for Swim Safe Gig Harbor, and they launched the community campaign to build a public aquatic center in our maritime city!
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In less than two weeks, the SSGH Facebook group had over 500 members. (Now over 1,100 members! Check us out on Facebook here: Swim Safe Gig Harbor Facebook Group). Residents quickly emailed their support for the campaign to the board at Peninsula Metropolitan Parks (PenMet). The campaign has also caught the eye of local newspapers, including the Gateway and Gig Harbor NOW.
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The campaign continues to grow and is focusing on working wisely and respectfully with all parties involved to achieve a completed, constructed public aquatic center in Gig Harbor!
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