Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program Coming to Parkwood Pool Summer 2023
Published on November 03, 2022
Providing Accessible and Affordable Swim Lessons and Equipment to Area Youth
The Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas Parks and Recreation Department received exciting news this week that will secure free swim lessons and equipment for a number of Wyandotte County and Kansas City Kansas youth at Parkwood Pool in the summer of 2023.
On Tuesday, November 1, 2022, Government Employees Health Association (G.E.H.A), The Hunt Family Foundation, and the YMCA of Greater Kansas City announced their continued commitment to addressing various community health barriers with the launching of the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, Presented by GEHA.
“We are excited and grateful for the amazing partnership with GEHA, the Hunt Family Foundation, and the YMCA, expressed Unified Government of Wyandotte County/ Kansas City, Kansas Parks and Recreation Director, Angel Obert. “We look forward to the positive and long-lasting impact it will have on our community.”
Through this collaborative partnership, the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim program will secure up to 650 youth throughout the Kansas City area with both free swim lessons and equipment. The program was recently expanded as The Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program, Presented by GEHA to honor the life and legacy of Joe Delaney, the record-breaking Kansas City Chiefs running back. Delaney tragically drowned while attempting to rescue three young boys in Louisiana in 1983, after his second professional football season.
The pilot Learn to Swim Program sponsored by Warner Media, in partnership with the Kansas City, Kansas Public School District (KCKPS) and the YMCA was announced in February 2022. The impactful success of the pilot program gained interest from other community partners and the generous expansion sponsorship from G.E.H.A to sponsor 200 youth at Parkwood Pool with the Parkwood Pool Learn to Swim Program, during the summer of 2022.
The Joe Delaney Learn to Swim expanded program will begin in January of 2023, with programs taking place at five Kansas City metro locations through the summer of 2023, including:
- The North Kansas City YMCA
- The Linwood YMCA/James B. Nutter
- Sr. Community Center
- The Cleaver Family YMCA
- Kirk Family YMCA
- Parkwood Pool, KCK (Summer 2023) - Additional Information will be provided very soon regarding summer participation.
To ensure youth are equipped for success and positive self-esteem, each student will receive a new swim towel featuring the Joe Delaney decal that was worn in memorial on Kansas City Chiefs players jerseys, as well as free swimsuits, goggles, and sunscreen.
More complete details about the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program at Parkwood Pool will be posted soon.
For more information about the Joe Delaney Learn to Swim Program and other community partnerships through the Unified Government Parks and Recreation Department, please continue to visit the Parks and Recreation webpage at www.wycokck.org/parks.