I will be an incoming freshman at West Milford Township High School in the fall. I am a competitive swimmer and currently swim on my club team, Jersey Flyers Aquatics Club, and the West Milford swim team in the summer.
I have seen many different pools and aquatic facilities over the years I've been swimming, and all were at least a 30-minute drive from West Milford, the nearest one being the Warwick High School. These facilities, such as the Secaucus Recreation Center, have a 25-yard pool, bleachers for spectators, locker rooms, a gym, and a basketball court. Secaucus even has an indoor track that goes above the basketball courts. This facility has a membership program that gives the residents of Secaucus access to all of this.
Most people reading this would think that this would be very expensive, which indeed, it will be. But most of this money will be turned into profit for the town by having a membership program and by renting out the facilities to local club teams and other high school teams, and to classes like mommy and me and/or swimming lessons.
Recently, I have noticed that the town has been trying to boost West Milford's tourism. This aquatics facility will definitely bring an increase of visitors to our town.
As a competitive swimmer, I have always wanted to swim for my high school. But, I was disappointed when I found out that West Milford had no swim team. I know of at least 10 students who currently are in our high school that swim competitively. Swimming is an easy sport to get into, and having a high school team will encourage more kids to join the sport of swimming, and the swim team will grow.
I hope that the residents and the governing body of West Milford will think about, and hopefully act on, getting West Milford a pool and swim team. It will be a large investment, but it will be an investment in West Milford's future.
Ryan Jordan
West Milford