RACINE, Wis., May 30, 2018 – Just in time for summer, a celebration will be held today to commemorate the grand opening of the SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center, the first aquatic center to be developed in Racine County, located in Racine’s Pritchard Park. The Aquatic Center is funded by a $6.5 million donation from SC Johnson, and will open to the public June 2.
“When the weather is warm, outdoor swimming pools offer families a safe and enjoyable way to cool down and have fun,” said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. “SC Johnson has always been committed to helping improve lives where we live and work, and today’s celebration is another milestone in that effort.”
Fisk Johnson will be joined by Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave, CEO of the Racine Family YMCA Jeff Collen and U.S. Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Cullen Jones at today’s celebration, where safety around water will be emphasized.
Jones will speak at the event, sharing his personal story of nearly drowning when he was 5 years old. He soon thereafter enrolled in swimming lessons, forever changing the course of his life and eventually becoming a four-time Olympic medalist in swimming.
“Competence around water doesn’t always comes naturally,” said Jones. “But with swim lessons and a safe pool to practice in, anyone can become a more confident swimmer. The new SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center will provide Racine-area youth a place where they can hone their swimming skills and embrace safety around water.”
The SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center will be managed by the Racine Family YMCA and offers families affordable access to a wide variety of swim lessons and water safety education programs.
State-of-the-Art Facility
In addition to group programming, extensive swim lessons and lap swim times, the facility offers many additional amenities that people of all ages can enjoy. The aquatic center has two separate swimming pools, a lap pool with eight lanes and an activity pool, and has nearly 14,000 total square feet of water surface. Additional special pool features include water slides, a water play structure, a water spray feature and a zero-depth pool for young children. The facility also has shaded lounge areas, a concession stand which is run and managed by the Racine Young Leaders Academy, a multipurpose room, and dedicated parking facilities.
“Today’s opening of the SC Johnson Community Aquatic Center marks a dream realized,” said Delagrave. “This facility will enhance quality of life in the area, provide healthy and safe recreational activities for families, and cement Pritchard Park as a destination for Racine County residents.”
The pool will officially open to the public June 2, with select times for group programming in the morning and open swim beginning at 1 p.m. Regular season hours will begin when area schools are anticipated to end for the summer, around June 14. Information about membership, daily fees, hours of operation and aquatic programs can be found online at www.ymcaracine.org.
About SC Johnson
SC Johnson is a family company dedicated to innovative, high-quality products, excellence in the workplace and a long-term commitment to the environment and the communities in which it operates. Based in the USA, the company is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household cleaning products and products for home storage, air care, pest control and shoe care, as well as professional products. It markets such well-known brands as GLADE®, KIWI®, OFF!®, PLEDGE®, RAID®, SCRUBBING BUBBLES®, SHOUT®, WINDEX® and ZIPLOC® in the U.S. and beyond, with brands marketed outside the U.S. including AUTAN®, TANA®, BAMA®, BAYGON®, BRISE®, KABIKILLER®, KLEAR®, MR MUSCLE® and RIDSECT®. The 132-year-old company, which generates $10 billion in sales, employs approximately 13,000 people globally and sells products in virtually every country around the world. www.scjohnson.com
