08/15/2026
The Springfield Police Department and Baca County Sheriff's Office, in partnership with the Town of Springfield, used Youth Engagement funds to cover approximately five weeks of swimming fees for kids 18 and under. That added up to well over 500 free entries into the Springfield Swimming Pool.
We also used some of those funds to replace needed pool equipment and purchase new activity equipment, including pool basketball.
And here's probably our favorite part: NO TAX DOLLARS WERE USED!
The Youth Engagement Program is funded through contributions associated with municipal court dispositions and other donations. In other words, we found a way to take some money generated here and put it right back into something positive for Springfield's kids.
We also had something happen that deserves mentioning. One individual agreed through a court disposition to make a donation to the program. When his check arrived, he had written it for twice the amount he agreed to contribute (on purpose). We aren't going to name him, but he knows who he is. He didn't have to do it, and we thought that was pretty darn cool. Thank you!
Now for the people who actually make the pool work.
A huge thank you to Brett Figgins and his crew for the ridiculous amount of work they put into maintaining the pool before, during, and after the season. If you've never been responsible for keeping a public swimming pool alive and happy, just know there's a whole lot more involved than adding water and hoping for the best.
Thank you to Starla Westphal for managing the pool and to our lifeguards for showing up every day and keeping our kids safe. Without good lifeguards, none of the rest of this matters.
Thank you as well to Tammy Newman and Joan Day for taking care of the administrative side of things and helping us turn an idea into something that actually worked.
And finally, we weren't the only ones opening the gate for free this summer. Several businesses, organizations, and individuals sponsored free swim days of their own, and they deserve recognition too. It says a lot about this community when people are willing to reach into their own pockets simply to give local families and kids a good day at the pool.
So, after roughly five weeks, 500+ free youth admissions, some new equipment, and zero tax dollars, we're calling this one a success.
Chief Chris Griffin
