Kristin Desautelle
"The Valles pool is more than a swimming facility; it is a community asset that has shaped generations of swimmers, divers, athletes, and families, including our own."
Our family's connection to the Valles Pool spans more than 32 years and has been one of the most meaningful parts of our lives here in the Darien area.
We first joined the New Canaan YMCA because my husband wanted to participate in the Masters swimming program. What began as evening swim workouts quickly became so much more. Through the pool community, we met incredible friends at the Y and formed lasting friendships that have enriched our lives in countless ways.
Over the years, the Valles Pool became a second home for our family. Both of our daughters grew up there. Both learned to swim in the Valles Pool and the old warm-water pool. The oldest was a Caiman swimmer and later a Division I college swimmer. Our other daughter found her passion as a member of the Whirlwind diving team.
The pool has provided far more than fitness and recreation. It has given us lifelong friendships, opportunities for personal growth, and a strong sense of community. The relationships formed on deck, in the lanes, and through team activities have enriched our lives in countless ways.
Today, my husband and I still swim regularly in the Valles Pool, often joining either the 5:30 or 7 am Masters group. More than three decades after we first joined, the pool remains a vital part of our daily lives and our connection to the New Canaan community.
We are deeply grateful for the positive impact the Valles Pool has had on our family and for the friendships and memories it continues to create. The Valles pool is more than a swimming facility; it is a community asset that has shaped generations of swimmers, divers, athletes, and families, including our own. We implore you to seriously reconsider the plan to demolish the pool. This would be a devastating loss to future generations of swimmers and divers and very detrimental to the future of the New Canaan YMCA.