~ Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, along with the Office of Human Services (OHS) and Boston Centers for Youth & Families (BCYF), celebrated International Water Safety Day by announcing the award of $230,000 in grant funding to support free youth swim lessons. In addition, $10,000 was allocated for a new MBTA bus campaign that aims to raise awareness about the importance of water safety.

Under Mayor Wu's leadership, the Swim Safe initiative was launched in the summer of 2023 as part of her Connect, Learn, Explore: Commitment to Youth program. Since then, over 8,100 kids have received swim lessons through this program. In 2024 alone, Swim Safe provided lessons to over 6,000 youth.

Mayor Wu stated, "This International Water Safety Day, Boston is working with our partners to make it easier and more affordable to teach our kids to swim. As warm weather returns, we're investing in free Swim Safe lessons and making progress in renovating our City pools to ensure families have a safe, fun way to cool off and enjoy the summer."

The $230,000 in grants will be funded through BCYF's annual operating budget and will support free swim lessons for Boston youth. This will ensure that families have access to affordable beginner-level swim lessons. The grantees for this year include organizations such as the YMCA of Greater Boston, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester, and West End House. Summer camp programs will also receive funding to incorporate beginner swim lessons into their curriculum.

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Chief of Human Services José F. Massó expressed his excitement about partnering with existing Swim Safe providers and welcoming new grantees who will offer lessons as part of their summer camp experience.

In addition to providing free swim lessons for youth, Mayor Wu has also prioritized investing in the city's pool infrastructure and streamlining processes to prevent deferred maintenance that has caused closures in recent years. The BCYF Draper and Curtis Hall Pools have already reopened in April, and the outdoor seasonal pools (BCYF Clougherty and BCYF Mirabella) are expected to open on June 21. The new Clougherty Bathhouse will also be completed early this summer, and the BCYF Condon Pool is set to finish renovations and reopen in the coming months. Despite national challenges, BCYF has hired lifeguards to fully staff City pools for the summer season.

Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families Marta E. Rivera emphasized the importance of providing equitable access to water safety education for all young residents, especially in a city with a prime waterfront location like Boston.

Ericka Rodriguez, mother of four children who are currently learning to swim at the YMCA of Greater Boston through Swim Safe, shared her gratitude for the program. "I didn't think my kids would be as excited and happy as they are - I thought they would be scared, but all they want to do is go to class and learn," she said. "They have learned so much already. I am so thankful for the Swim Safe program."

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The expansion of swim lessons in Boston is not just a recreational issue but also a public health concern. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children, with children of color at a higher risk. Black children are more than twice as likely as white children to die from drowning. For every child who dies from drowning, there are seven non-fatal drownings that can lead to long-term health issues.

To raise awareness about water safety on International Water Safety Day (May 15), the City launched an ad campaign featuring water safety ads on MBTA buses that travel through Boston. These ads remind parents and caregivers about important water safety tips such as taking swim lessons, never swimming alone, and calling 9-1-1 for help in case of an emergency.

To learn more about Swim Safe Boston and water safety, visit boston.gov/swim-safe.

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