Photograph by Robert Scheer
Sunnyvale's Holly Hofgren is lobbying the council to build showers at the Sunnyvale Middle School pool.
By LESTER CHANG
Holly Hofgren loves to swim and wants the city of Sunnyvale to share her enthusiasm.
For the past four years she has lobbied the City Council to build a new pool, install showers at Sunnyvale Middle School, and extend the hours at three other swimming facilities throughout the city.
City Hall seems to be listening.
The latest round of requests by Hofgren and others in the community has prompted councilmembers to dive into a study of Sunnyvale's pool situation.
"We need to have a program for adults and the elderly of this town," she said. "Swimming is good for health."
Hofgren, 39, began swimming six years ago and chose the middle school pool for her workouts. But Hofgren, who swims twice a week, said because students use the pool most of the day, it is open to the public only in the early morning and evening.
"The pool is heated, but who wants to swim so early," she said. "I didn't like swimming at night because I felt there was a safety issue."
Residents can use the middle school site under a maintenance agreement the city has with the Sunnyvale School District. The agreement also applies to the pool at Columbia Middle School.
Hofgren has also swum at Lakewood Park and Washington Park, but has had to deal with a constant change in the hours of operation.
She decided to swim in Mountain View, a drive of more than 20 minutes from her Sunnyvale home.
In 1995, she sent a petition to the council signed by 55 residents seeking a program for lap swimming and water-related exercises.
The council agreed to consider building shower facilities at the school, but balked when it found it would cost more than $400,000.
Hofgren asked the council to consider the proposal at another time.
The city won't build another pool because of the cost, but is looking at options that will be mutually beneficial to the city and residents, said Robert Walker, interim director of the Parks Department.
For instance, the city started a pilot program allowing residents to use a pool at the 24-Hour Fitness Center in Sunnyvale at a cost of $2 per visit, he said.
The Parks and Recreation Commission also will hold hearings.
"We are trying to be responsible, and it doesn't necessarily mean we will agree on the final outcome," he said.
Hofgren said she won't press the issue if the city doesn't have solutions this year. "But that doesn't mean I won't be back next year," she said.
This article appeared in the Sunnyvale Sun, February 5, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.