Chehalem Park district gets $20K grant to develop aquatics programs

Thanks to a grant from a state philanthropic organization, the Chehalem Park and Recreation District can now develop a new aquatics program.

The Oregon Community Foundation announced March 21 that it has awarded CPRD $20,575 for its swim education program.

Wendy Roberts, CPRD’s aquatics coordinator, and Krista Miller, aquatic specialist, were responsible for applying for the grant, one of hundreds meted by the OCF in four categories: Advised fund, community advised fund, discretionary and designated. The CPRD received an advised fund grant, meaning that OCF’s donors are actively involved with how the funds are dispersed to recipients.

“This was the first time that the aquatics department, in my tenure, has applied and received this specific grant,” Miller said in an email.

Miller further explained that she and Roberts applied for grant “with the intention to develop a program that enriches and promotes water safety, aquatic education and development of the long-term relationship between the Newberg school district and Chehalem Aquatic & Fitness Center’s community aquatic programs.”

The ultimate goal, Miller continued, is “provide the aquatic foundations and water safety knowledge to develop a sustainable and progressive aquatic curriculum for elementary, middle and high school grade levels.”

The grant will aid in getting a program started that provides in-depth aquatic education and inclusive physical training opportunities to Newberg-area students.

“CPRD aquatics will strive to create an exceptional physical education program that would evolve into a highly in-demand aquatically skilled first responder form of employment for our high school students that is transferable to both high school and collegiate employment environments,” Miller said.

That includes developing lifeguard training and water safety instructor education and career curriculums, as well as offering employment opportunities to individuals who complete those disciplines. In addition, the grant will aid the department in reinstating its daytime swim program for students of all ages, provide water and river safety awareness programs and become a conduit between the department’s aquatic sports programs and school-age kids.

Miller added that Newberg students will soon be able to train to become swim instructors.

“With this class being offered at the high school as a credit this coming winter 2025, we are hoping that we could provide a bridge for our high schoolers with an employment opportunity which would give these amazing students training in preventative care, leadership and the skill set to think under pressure,” she said.