Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages 5 to 14. However, with the help of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks and the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation, many children in Detroit are now learning how to swim and feel confident around water.

Expanding Access to Swim Lessons

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks has set an ambitious goal of providing 6,000 free swim lessons annually by 2028. Since 2021, through the Everyone in the Pool initiative and Detroit’s Swim in the D program, over 11,000 children and adults across Southeast Michigan have received free swim lessons.

The Metroparks and its partners have also distributed thousands of free life jackets to Metro Detroit residents. This year alone, they will reach more than 5,100 residents through partnerships with schools, recreation centers, and community organizations.

Meeting Families Where They Are

The Everyone in the Pool initiative is about taking the work of the Metroparks beyond its park borders. Access to swim lessons and water safety education shouldn’t depend on whether a family can get to one of the parks. The Metroparks has opened the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, its 14th park and first location in the city of Detroit.

Families looking to take advantage of free swim lessons can register for Session Two of the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Swim in the D program, which opens at 10 a.m. on June 27. The session runs from July 20 through August 15 at recreation centers across the city.

Original reporting: BridgeDetroit — read the source article.