Parents are concerned after a long-standing Platte County swim program was ended last month with no notice.
The Blue Wave Swim Team, currently run by the Platte County Community Center North YMCA in Platte City, was founded in 1971 and consists of about 70 swimmers. On Nov. 25, the team celebrated a successful fund raiser, where swimmers had raised about $7,000 for the team. The next day, a meeting was held with YMCA leadership and the end of the team was announced, mid-season, due to dwindling program numbers and financial difficulties.
Parents Kristi Dale and David Field spoke to The Citizen last week about their concerns, stating the YMCA leadership has been less than transparent about the financial concerns involving the team, and has left them high and dry mid-season. They say they pay $1,500 in program fees, in addition to YMCA membership, to participate in the inclusive team, which according to the YMCA website, is “where swimmers, coaches and parents or guardians work together to develop first-class swimmers and youth who embody the Y core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.”
The Blue Wave Swim Team offered competitive swim in a more inclusive environment, allowing swimmers the time to develop at their own pace, and even offered scholarships for low-income families.
After some pushback from parents, the YMCA extended the year-end deadline to allow the team to finish out championships in March 2025, but parents are not pleased at the news or the way the situation was handled. They complained of a lack of communication with YMCA leadership about their concerns.
“We had no notice, no inkling that there was a problem,” Dale said.
The end of the program left people struggling to find places on other local swim teams, many of which cannot take swimmers mid-season. Those on scholarships were simply out of luck.
“Now, Platte County has two facilities and no swim team and no program to feed into for high school swimming,” Dale said.
Field said he had contacted the YMCA of Greater Kansas City’s executive director about the decision, but has yet to hear back.
“The decision to discontinue the Blue Wave Swim Team was a very difficult one made after careful consideration of several factors,” said Paula Oxler, vice president of marketing for the YMCA. “Participation has significantly declined over the past few years, resulting in the program operating at a substantial deficit. As a nonprofit, the Y must make best use of limited resources, and the program is no longer financially sustainable.”
She said the Y is is working with parents and coaches on options to join another swim team that could use the pool at Platte County Community Center North, including the same practice days and times, and hosting meets there.
Swimmers who are leaving the team may request refunds for swim team fees, membership fees and donations, she said.
“We are processing refund requests as we receive them, and it may take three to four business days for refunds to be processed,” Oxler said.