Members of Anchorage diving community vigorously defends safety of new Bartlett diving boards

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – Diving community members emphasized a rigorous approval process as they forcefully defended new diving boards which are installed at the state’s main competition pool located at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School, saying they do not impact swimmers’ safety.

“To our shock and surprise, the findings from our building code, from our building permits, were not represented to the community,” said Arctic Diving Club President Matt McDaniel.

The comments come after the director of the Anchorage Parks and Recreation Department, who operate all municipality pools including Bartlett, told Alaska’s News Source Investigates earlier this week they would look into swimming concerns new diving boards were creating for swimmers.

“There are concerns on both fronts: that we want to make sure that the deck is safe, and we want to make sure that it meets user expectations or traditional community use,” Municipality Parks and Recreation Director Mike Braniff previously said. “What we’re looking to do is initiate a process where we look into both elements of that and then arrive at conclusions with the help of some professionals.”

Well before those comments, McDaniel said his diving group had already taken action to address Parks and Recreation leaders’ feedback about diving board concerns.

“We went back and re-verified all of our evidence, with our building permits, with our fire sign off, and testimony from other administrators from pools outside of the country, and thought that that was good,” said McDaniel.

Included in that process, Donald Crafts, a municipal engineer, said he had performed an architectural review and said a licensed state architect “sealed and signed” submitted plans.

“This permit was reviewed as an equipment replacement,” said Crafts. “The pool area exiting was considered to be code compliant by an MOA Fire Plan reviewer and by me. The diving boards themselves are considered as pieces of equipment that do not require accessibility per the building code.”

Vincent English, a project installation contractor, said all Americans with Disabilities Act compliance was met as part of the permitting process being approved, including wheelchair regulations.

A 30-plus year community swimming coach, McDaniel was part of the group of people who worked to help the Dimond Alumni Association secure a $400,000 grant – money they said they’ve used during the last three years to replace diving boards throughout the municipality, including at the Bartlett pool.

McDaniel said once the upgrade project’s Bartlett phase started, community-wide support lessened when it was determined an extra three-meter-high diving board would be added for the club to be able to hold a sectional USA meet, which members said had been their goal for the last 40 years.

That additional diving board is now the main contention point.

Previously, Eagle River High School swimming coach Bryce Carpenter pointed to the change from two, 1-meter boards and one, 3-meter board to two, 1-meter boards and two, 3-meter boards, as causing safety and competition issues for swimmers needing center lane access. Carpenter said it reduces lane space and causes swimmers, who are tall, major safety risks.

“My athletes have to either adjust or completely reinvent their relay exchanges,” said Carpenter. “I have several kids that are over 6-foot-3 that if they just go straight up on the block, they’re smacking their head on that ceramic base, and they’re going to crack their head open.”

English, the project’s installing contractor, called the safety concerns unfounded and said Bartlett’s design is being used at several university pools across the country.

“The question that I would ask them is why is this a normal thing in other facilities? And why can’t changes be made?” said English. “If there is such an issue, and they are so upset about it, I would have them reach out to the National Federation of State High School Association and the USA Swimming.”

Some in the diving community points to letters written by those organizations including a letter by USA Diving President Lee Michaud.

“I am convinced that it meets appropriate standards for safe competition for diving and swimming,” Michaud writes. “Further, this facility is similar in form and function to others that currently host diving and swimming competitions in conjunction.”

A separate letter from National Federation of State High School Association Director of Sports Sandy Searcy to Alaska School Activities Association executive director Billy Strickland said a review of Barlett’s proposed design showed no concerns.

“Upon review of the NFHS Swimming and Diving Rules, it has been determined that the current rules code does not explicitly prohibit, nor does it address the matter in question,” Searcy stated. “No specific regulation is provided within the existing rules framework concerning the issue.”

McDaniel said Parks and Recreation department leaders need to do a better job helping the community understand that Bartlett’s pool is a public facility with many users who all deserve equal access.

“We really want to get back to embracing our partners in the swimming community and get our kids off the streets and into the pools, and get back to mentoring and helping out kids,” said McDaniel. “That’s our ultimate goal, once this is all over.”

Expect updates from Alaska’s News Source Investigates as more information becomes available.

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