FULLERTON : Pool Backers Pool Efforts

An Olympic champion, the captains of several local high school swim teams, and numerous world-class competitors all share an experience that serves as background to their success. They got their start as members of FAST (Fullerton Aquatic Swim Team).

FAST began using Independence Park’s 50-meter pool, which it had long lobbied for, when the city facility opened July 4, 1976. Today, the swim team still practices in the pool six days a week, all year long.

Such unstinting work launched the careers of U.S. Olympic Gold medalist Janet Evans and Canadian Olympian Darren Ward and produced Junior Olympians Allyson Brown and Eric Hansen. It also earned ninth-graders Erin Chon and Vanessa Gartner places on Sunny Hills High School’s varsity girls swim team, which is among the county’s better teams.

But the swimming sessions may soon be cut short.

Due to shrinking financial resources, the Fullerton Community Services Commission is recommending that the City Council shut down the pool during the winter months in an effort to save about $25,000.

FAST swimmers and their families, mostly Fullerton residents, say closing down the pool would be detrimental to the team. They say they will fight to keep the pool open year-round, because members need to practice all the time if they want to realize their dreams of competing in such events as the Olympics or other championship swim meets.

City Council members are scheduled to consider the proposed pool closure at a meeting in June. Meanwhile, FAST members and coach Kevin Perry are trying to solicit support for their fight.

“We are here to provide an opportunity to swim in the national and international levels,” Perry said. “We pay rent for the pool and there is no other 50-meter pool in Orange County.”

Added parent John Hansen: “To close us down would destroy us.”