SWIMMING DANGERS: Costly Aquatic Center

Four children have drowned while swimming in the treacherous Iowa River in Marshalltown in the past few weeks, even though the city has this large aquatic center for children to cool off just a couple of miles away.  The problem is, for a lot of families, admission to the center is too high. ”Right now there aren’t  lot of options.” says Police Chief Mike Tupper, ”We have an aquatic center but I know that’s not always an affordable option for people.”

Robin Garcia agrees. She lived right next door to 10-year old Andres Favela-Lopez; he drowned in the river June 18th. Garcia says she can’t afford to send her children to the aquatic center.   ”I have seven kids.  Six live at home.” she explains,  “I think the pass for the summer is approximately 180-dollars. Not feasible on my income.  Per day six times four, 24 I don’t sometimes make that per day .”

But the Department of Parks and Recreation says it can’t lower the prices for low income families, even on hot days like today, without first going through a mountain of red tape.

 ”I don’t know how I would answer that as far as whether i would recommend it.” Chad Weir with the Department of Parks and Recreation says “I would certainly look into it.”