KISU gets out of the blocks on fundraising
Competitive swimmers with the KISU Swim Club in Penticton will benefit from a successful fundraising drive over the past few months that raised almost half of the $85,000 needed to purchase and install new starting blocks at the pool in the Penticton Community Centre.
Kelsey Johnson, general manager of community services, told members of Penticton council Tuesday that there have been plans by the swim club and its supporters to replace and upgrade all 10 starting blocks at the local pool. The new starting blocks will be installed on each 25-meter lane used by KISU members for training and competition, said Johnson.
鈥淭he current blocks, which have an average lifespan of 15 to 20 years, were installed during the aquatic center renovation and have been in service since 2008,鈥 she said. 鈥淭he condition of the blocks has recently been assessed as good, and the replacement of this equipment has not been scheduled.鈥
KISU has requested that the starting blocks be replaced with new, high-performance equipment, which aligns well with the many events they host at the Penticton Community Centre each year, she said. The cost to purchase the new blocks and install them is roughly $85,000.
In late January, the club, its members, and supporters engaged in a 鈥淩ock the Blocks鈥 fundraising campaign that raised just over $40,000, or almost half the total cost, she said. 鈥淚n just one month, the group reached its target goal of raising $40,000 for the project,鈥 she added.
Staff have identified the additional $45,000 needed to finish the project within another planned capital project scheduled at the community center and have proposed reallocating that money to allow the swim club to complete the project, she said.
There has been strong community support for this venture, which allows the city to enhance a prime community asset, said Johnson. Penticton has secured the BC Summer Games in 2028, and the installation of these high-performance blocks will provide an opportunity to host other high-level competitions and events in future years, she said.
The blocks will be installed in the third quarter of 2025 during the annual maintenance shutdown at the community center, she added.
Council unanimously supported a staff recommendation to provide the additional $45,000 needed to complete the purchase and installation of the starting blocks.
