An opening ceremony was held on May 4, 2018, in Sitka to give Mt. Edgecumbe High School (MEHS) students and the public the chance to see the nearly completed aquatic center. I also wanted the seniors at MEHS who have waited patiently for the pool to be completed to have a chance to swim in it before finishing their academic careers at MEHS.
The aquatic center will primarily serve MEHS students while also providing an opportunity for recreation, health and fitness, physical therapy, and other uses to the community at large. Teaching MEHS students to swim is particularly important as drowning is a leading cause of death in rural Alaska.
When fully completed, the facility will also be used by the Alaska State Troopers and the United States Coast Guard for training purposes.
In the 2010 general election, a majority of statewide voters said “yes’ to building the pool and other projects that were part of the statewide bond package. The bonds provided $20 million for the project. As Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I obtained additional funding for the project in 2012.
I am very glad that years of work pushing the project forward with the help of Governor Walker and Lt. Governor Mallott is nearly complete.
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