COUNTY GRANT FUNDS HIGH 5 INC. POOL RENOVATIONS JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS

High 5 Inc. was awarded a grant to fund the resurfacing of its three pools, which are expected to be completed at the end of April.

The $550,000 grant was given to High 5 by Hillsborough County at the beginning of the 2023 annual budget cycle.

“It helps us to be able to teach children under the age of 3 to swim, increases the opportunity to run competitions, which would have a nice economic impact to our area and create a much better experience for all community members that use these areas,” said High 5 CEO Chuck Burgess.

At High 5’s location of U.S. Highway 60 at 405 Beverly Blvd. in Brandon, all three pools will undergo the resurfacing financed by the county’s grant. High 5 owns an Olympic-sized lap pool with five diving boards and a diving well. Its 10lane, 25-yard pool and teaching pool are also being renovated.

The pool resurfacing project is part of a three-phase improvement project to update High 5’s facilities. This phase will allow the recreation center to add aquatic facilities to expand opportunities for swim lessons, school practices and other events. Additionally, these improvements will make space for senior programming,

By Lily Belcher

giving large groups or church organizations the appropriate space for their meetings.

“The grant is more than just a resurfacing,” explained Burgess.

“It has been part of a three-phase overall project to update and add significant aquatic facilities for learning to swim for all ages.”

BCI Pools is in charge of the renovation project. The Fort Myers-based swimming pool contractor has 40 years of experience building pools for the community.

High 5 is a community recreation center that supports education, athletics and community through its programs. High 5’s value-added membership opportunities give members special prices, early registration and exclusive invitations to events, among other perks. Juniors can receive a membership for $40 per month, individual memberships cost $55 per month and family memberships cost $75 per month. One-day guest passes are also available for $10 per person.

For more information on how to join High 5 and to learn about its mission to serve the community, visit www.high5inc.org. To contact the organization, call 813-689-0908 or email memberservices@high5inc.org.

Certified Roofers has been a part of our community since 1981. Its quality of service is well known in the community. “Certified Roofers was founded by my father when he was just 18 years old,” said Certified Roofers’ owner and president, Alex Sanchez. “He spent his entire life building the business right here in our community. We unfortunately lost him in 2015, but we have carried on in his honor ever since.”

Sanchez was born and raised here in Valrico. He attended Riverview High School where his mother was a teacher for many years. “I went on to work in the family business while attending USF and have never left the business,”