Political candidates in Arizona are campaigning for open water swimming. Before Arizona became an American state, the residents of Tempe used to do open water swimming when water still flowed through Salt River.
But after the river dried up with the construction of the Roosevelt Dam, two candidates in Tempe are pushing for a possible revival of open water swimming.
Mayoral candidate Michael Monti and City Council candidate Dick Foreman said they are forming an ad hoc citizens committee to study their plan. “We’ve been hearing, ‘We love the lake. We love the amenities, but it’s not really open for us on a casual basis,'” explained Michael. “It’s sort of like you’re not allowed here,” added Dick. “[The plan] does need further refinement but we believe it can be done.”
Directions on solutions to the issue will begin at a community meeting on December 20th in Tempe.
Since opening of the Tempe Town Lake in 1999, Tempe has only allowed swimming during special events. The city studied opening the lake to swimming in 2010 and estimated the cost at US$10 million. After an analysis, the city allowed stand-up paddling but declined further study of swimming because of the cost.
Former Mayor Rudy Campbell also endorsed the idea giving some additional hope to open water swimming residents and triathletes.
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff. Note: WOWSA only recommends products or services used or recommended by the community. WOWSA does not receive compensation for links or products mentioned on this site or in blog posts. If it does, it will be indicated clearly on that specific post. See WOWSA's privacy policy for more information.