PAST EFFORTS: SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION (SPR) HAS A HISTORY OF PROACTIVE MEASURES TO ENSURE POOL SAFETY, INCLUDING REGULAR FACILITY INSPECTIONS, LIFEGUARD TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH ON WATER SAFETY. INITIATIVES LIKE THE SWIM SEATTLE INITIATIVE BUILD UPON THESE EFFORTS BY EXPANDING ACCESS TO SWIM LESSONS AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE PROGRAMMING, AIMING TO REDUCE DISPARITIES IN DROWNING RATES AND IMPROVE OVERALL COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SAFETY. ADDITIONALLY, SPR HAS WORKED TO COMPLY WITH THE VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT. EFFORTS INCLUDE REGULAR INSPECTIONS, INSTALLATION OF COMPLIANT DRAIN COVERS, AND STAFF TRAINING ON EMERGENCY RESPONSE PROTOCOLS.DROWNING PREVENTION - SWIM SEATTLE: REGIONALLY, DROWNING IS THE LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 14 AND THERE CONTINUE TO BE DISPARITIES ACCESSING SWIMMING FACILITIES AND WATER SAFETY EDUCATION, PARTICULARLY AMONG BLACK AND LATINO POPULATIONS. THE CITY OF SEATTLE, SERVING OVER 755,000 RESIDENTS, IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING HISTORICAL INEQUITIES AND ENHANCING WATER SAFETY THROUGH THE SWIM SEATTLE INITIATIVE. TO COMBAT THIS, THE SWIM SEATTLE INITIATIVE, LAUNCHED IN APRIL 2023, AIMS TO REMOVE BARRIERS FOR BIPOC AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES TO LEARN TO SWIM. KEY PARTNERS INCLUDE (SPR), YMCA, NO MORE UNDER, AND THE ASSOCIATED RECREATION COUNCIL.SWIM SEATTLE S COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH INCLUDES:FREE SWIM LESSONS GEAR: PROVIDING FREE BEGINNER SWIM LESSONS AND GEAR.TEEN SWIM PROGRAM: LOW-BARRIER SWIM LESSONS AND PRE-LIFEGUARD TRAINING IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, WITH PLANS TO EXPAND TO NEW LOCATIONS.WATER SAFETY EVENTS: HOSTING CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE EVENTS IN COLLABORATION WITH NO MORE UNDER, FOCUSING ON COMMUNITIES HISTORICALLY EXCLUDED FROM AQUATIC PROGRAMS.BLACK LIFEGUARD TRAINING: IMPLEMENTING TARGETED TRAINING TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AMONG AQUATIC STAFF AND ADDRESS THE NATIONAL LIFEGUARD SHORTAGE.OUR GOAL IS TO EDUCATE FAMILIES ABOUT WATER SAFETY AND CREATE PATHWAYS FOR MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE IN SWIM PROGRAMS. BY PRIORITIZING SEATTLE NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH EQUITY NEEDS AND LEVERAGING COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS, SWIM SEATTLE WILL STRIVE TO ENSURE EVERY CHILD CAN SWIM BY AGE 10, ULTIMATELY REDUCING DROWNING RATES.ENFORCEMENT OF THE VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOL AND SPA SAFETY ACT: SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION MANAGES 10 SWIMMING POOLS, 2 ACTIVITY LEISURE POOLS, 3 SPAS, AND 18 WADING POOLS. SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATION WILL PERFORM A COMPREHENSIVE AUDIT WHICH WILL IDENTIFY ANY DEFICIENCIES AND ENSURE STRICT COMPLIANCE WITH THE VIRGINIA GRAEME BAKER POOLS AND SAFETY ACT. THIS COMMITMENT UNDERSCORES SEATTLE PARKS AND RECREATIONS DEDICATION TO UPHOLDING NATIONAL SAFETY STANDARDS WHILE PROMOTING EQUITABLE ACCESS TO WATER RECREATION AND EDUCATION IN SEATTLE S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES.