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Swim parents upset after being charged to watch practice

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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Some swim team parents are upset after they say they were charged to enter the Corpus Christi Natatorium to watch their kids practice.

For years the Coastal Bend All-Star Swim Team has been able to monitor their kids for free while they practice.

But on Monday, when about 20 children, their parents and a few coaches showed up, they say a city employee told them the team would only be able to use two lanes to practice as opposed to their usual five.

When the parents pointed out there were other lanes available, they say that the employee told them those were for public use.

And if their kids wanted to use those lanes, each swimmer and their parents would have to pay a general admission fee. They also would not be allowed to train with their coaches.

“We as parents were very upset because not all of us have older kids who swim and know what they're doing so, of course, I went home and took advantage of social media and posted and tagged the city expressing my frustration because I didn't feel that was right,” said parent Sandra Escamilla.

We reached out the city, but they never got back to us, but one parent said the city's Parks and Recreation Department assistant director reached out to her this morning.

“The city lady who called me she clearly said that's not the procedure and she said that pretty much the employee did everything on her own,” said Escamilla. “They apologized and they assured me that's not going to happen again.”

Escamilla says the city even went as far as to offer parents a refund. Now she just hopes her children can swim in peace.

“So, we don't have to go through that again especially the kids they were really disappointed last night because they couldn’t train especially the little ones,” said Escamilla.

Parents say they are currently trying to work out an agreement with the city that will allow the children to train Monday through Friday on a set number of lanes.