McNears' Free Swim Days to Serve 900 Kids

Approximately 900 local kids will be able to enjoy a free swim day at the McNears Beach Park thanks to a new grant.

The Kaiser Permanente San Rafael Community Benefit program recently approved a grant to Marin County Parks for a free summer swim program. Starting June 21, will offer a “fee-free” swim day for children under the age of 17 every Thursday through the summer.

Parks estimates that up to 900 children could visit the pool for free this summer.

“During a period of rising fees and closures at many Marin County parks and preserves, this partnership with Kaiser will enable us to provide free outdoor swim opportunities to underserved children in Marin,” said Linda Dahl, director and general manager of Marin County Parks.

The Kaiser grant has also enabled Marin County Parks to partner with a local summer camp to provide free swim instruction to children living in the Canal Community this summer. The Kids Club Summer Program, part of Catholic Charities CYO Canal Family Support Services, is a 7-week camp featuring activities such as physical fitness and nutrition, music, art, swimming, field trips and group team building.

“Through free field trips to the McNears Beach Park pool, we will not only gain free, safe and supervised access to an outdoor pool in San Rafael but also give kids the opportunity to learn to swim- an important skill they might not otherwise be able to learn,” Senior Program Director Carlos Garcia said.

Local swim instructor Gloria Pomilia and Marin County Parks certified instructors will provide swim instruction to students in the Kids Club Summer Program. For information about the free summer swim program for kids and park entrance fees, please visit www.marincountyparks.org.