COMMUNITY
Kids can go swimming for free through Ditch the Ditches
Albuquerque offers free swim passes to kids who pledge to stay out of ditches
This summer, the city of Albuquerque is encouraging children to 鈥渄itch the ditches鈥� and head to the pool instead.
Through the city鈥檚 Ditch the Ditches program, children 17 and under can receive one free pass to any city or county pool.
To qualify, children must take a pledge to stay out of the city鈥檚 ditches and arroyos and to call 911 if they see someone in distress rather than entering the water.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been a long effort through the ditch and water safety program,鈥� said David Stoliker, interim executive engineer at the Albuquerque Metropolitan Arroyo Flood Control Authority. 鈥淚t鈥檚 community outreach for AMAFCA and others who are part of ditch and water safety.鈥�
According to Esqui Padilla, operations manager for the Flood Control Authority, the passes have long been part of the city鈥檚 effort to prevent drownings in arroyos. The online pledge and electronic passes are a renewed effort to keep children safe during the summer.
鈥淲ith the swim passes, there鈥檚 no reason for kids to be playing in ditches,鈥� Padilla said.
Printed passes are distributed by Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Albuquerque police, Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue, the Bernalillo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and Flood Control Authority maintenance crews. The passes provide free entry to any city or county pool and have been part of the program for more than a decade, Padilla said.
The online passes are part of an expanded effort to discourage children from playing in ditches and arroyos. After completing the pledge, children receive a code that can be redeemed online or presented to a cashier for free entry to city or county pools through Sept. 7.
