Op-ed: Building a future where every child can swim  

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of accidental death for children ages 5 to 14, but it doesn’t have to be. Preventing drowning and expanding access to water safety education requires all of us to continue investing in and creating opportunities for children to learn how to swim. 

The Huron-Clinton Metroparks and the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation have made this work a priority. We know swim lessons save lives, and we believe every child should have the opportunity to learn how to swim and feel confident around water.

At the Metroparks, we’ve set an ambitious goal: providing 6,000 free swim lessons annually by 2028. 

Michigan is surrounded by water. From pools to rivers and the Great Lakes, water is part of everyday life. Yet too many children, particularly those in urban communities, still lack access to swim lessons and water safety education. Here in Detroit, nearly 70% of children have little to no swimming experience, not because they don’t want to learn, but because they face significant barriers. A limited number of pools, transportation challenges and the cost of lessons have prevented too many families from gaining the skills and confidence needed to enjoy the water safely.

That’s why we’ve focused on bringing lessons directly into communities. Since 2021, through our Everyone in the Pool initiative and Detroit’s Swim in the D program, we’ve provided free swim lessons to more than 11,000 children and adults across Southeast Michigan. This year alone, we’ll reach more than 5,100 residents through partnerships with schools, recreation centers and community organizations.

We’re also making sure people can get their hands on critical safety resources. Over the past two summers, the Metroparks and our partners have distributed thousands of free life jackets to Metro Detroit residents because we know life jackets save lives and cost should never be a barrier to water safety.

At its core, Everyone in the Pool is about taking our work beyond the borders of the Metroparks. We believe access to swim lessons and water safety education shouldn’t depend on whether a family can get to one of our parks.

That same commitment to meeting families where they are inspired a major investment. Last year, in partnership with the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, we opened the Huron-Clinton Metroparks Water Garden at Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Centennial Park, our 14th park and first location in the city of Detroit. The Water Garden allows children and families to explore natural resources and build connections with the outdoors in the heart of the city. The opening marked an important milestone in bringing even more Metroparks experiences directly into Detroit neighborhoods.

But there is still more work to do. While we’ve made significant progress, we want to reach more children, bring programming into more communities and create additional opportunities for families to access swim lessons and water safety education. We’re hopeful that more schools, nonprofits, community organizations and corporate partners will join us in helping expand this work.

For families looking to take advantage of free swim lessons, registration for Session Two of the City of Detroit Parks & Recreation Swim in the D program opens at 10 a.m. June 27. The session runs from July 20 through Aug. 15 at recreation centers across the city. Families can also sign up for lessons through the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit at locations throughout Southeast Michigan. We encourage families to register as soon as possible. These programs are in high demand. Spots fill quickly and we don’t want families to miss the opportunity to participate. Information about swim lessons, water safety resources and registration opportunities can be found at metroparks.com/everyone-in-the-pool.

Our goal is simple: ensure more children have the skills, confidence and opportunities they need to enjoy Michigan’s waters safely. We’ve made important progress, but we’re just getting started.  

Amy McMillan is the CEO of the Huron-Clinton Metroparks. Under Amy McMillan’s leadership, Huron-Clinton Metroparks launched its first park in the City of Detroit.

Crystal Perkins is the Director of the General Services Department for the City of Detroit, which manages the city’s 310 public parks and 16 recreation centers.