Harrison Public Schools Announces Summer Swim Program

Harrison Public Schools has officially announced the commencement of its Summer Swim Program, an initiative to equip local residents with vital swimming skills and also provide Adults and Children with access to a swimming pool.  The program is scheduled to take place at the Washington Middle School Pool, formerly known as Harrison High School, located on Harrison Avenue nestled between North 5th Street and Patterson St. in Harrison NJ.. Notably, the entrance to the pool is the one closest to North 5th Street.

Registration Details

The registration for the Summer Swim Program will be conducted on two dates: Monday, July 3, 2023, and Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Registration Hours have been divided into two slots: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.  It is not clear if you miss the Registration Hours whether there will be additional registration days and/or you can register by showing up during swim hours. Swim hours were not stated in the information provided by the Harrison Public Schools.

Eligibility and Fees

The Summer Swim Program is an exclusive offering only for the residents of Harrison or East Newark NJ. Hence, participants will be asked to furnish proof of residency at the time of registration. The program is not free. The membership fee stands at $2.00 per person, along with a daily entrance fee of $1.50 per adult and 50 cents per child. Those interested in enrolling for weekly swimming lessons would need to make an additional one-time payment of $10.00.

Importance of Learning to Swim

The benefits of learning to swim are multifold.

Firstly, swimming is a crucial life-saving skill. According to the World Health Organization, drowning is a major cause of death globally, especially among children aged 1-14 years. By mastering swimming, individuals drastically reduce their risk of drowning and are also equipped to assist others in water-related emergencies.

Secondly, swimming is a fantastic form of exercise. It is a low-impact, whole-body workout that improves cardiovascular health, muscle strength, and flexibility. Regardless of age, swimming can contribute significantly to overall physical well-being.

Finally, swimming fosters a sense of self-confidence and independence, especially in young learners. It also promotes social interaction and can serve as a foundation for a healthy, active lifestyle.

Traditional Summer Swim Program

In light of these benefits, the Summer Swim Program by the Harrison Public Schools has traditionally been an important summer program for the children of Harrison and neighboring East Newark.  Although most of the apartment buildings in the Redevelopment Zone in Harrison have swimming pools those pools are closed to non-residents.

Plans for Green Space, Community Center & State of the Art Pool Scrapped

The Harrison Redevelopment Agency (HRA) had included a plan for Green Space and a Community Center which included a pool but at present the Chairman of the HRA who is also the Mayor of Harrison, James Fife stated at a HRA meeting on August 29, 2022 that ““Of course, you have the biggest piece Public Service,  the EPA is holding that up.  We were going to do some planning over there but the EPA is going to using it for the [Passaic] river dredge [aka sludge].  We don’t know how long that is going to be it could be 10 years.  But It is up to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)  and PSE&G (Public Service Electric & Gas)  to decide what is going on there.”   HRA Chairman and Mayor of Harrison stated at a meeting last month that he has no position on the proposed dredging and dumping of toxic dioxin laden Agent Orange in the former PSE&G Gas Works property which has been cleaned up by PSE&G and is ready for the proposed Park / Green Space and a multi-level Community Center redevelopment.

By making swimming lessons accessible and affordable, the program empowers its participants with a critical life skill while promoting a healthier and safer community. Taking a Position against the proposed EPA dumping of toxic sludge in the former PSE&G property in Harrison would also go a long way to protecting public health and fulfill the dream of the late Mayor Raymond McDonough, an additional state-of-the-art community swimming pool.

For More Information on EPA Proposal read this article

EPA Toxic Sludge Plan Worse Than Expected And It Was Already Bad

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