The brand-new Don Fisher Boys & Girls Club officially opened its doors at 380 Fulton St. in January of this year, after more than a year of construction. Now, the competition-sized swimming pool will be accessible for public use on Tuesday evenings, from 7-8pm.
The 38,000-square-foot building hosts a number of amenities for kids in the community, including a performing arts space, a basketball court, and a music studio. The facility was designed to accommodating up to 2,000 youth (ages 6-18 years) every year—an average daily attendance of 190 kids per day.
The pool is used for a number of programs—the Club's aquatic program offers swimming lessons for youth, and is host to a swim team and swim meets. Nearby schools such as the Lycee Francais and Sacred Heart use the pool to fulfill physical education requirements. Open recreational swim time is also offered to Club members.
Now, the Hayes Valley Neighborhood Association (HVNA) has been working with the Club to offer benefits to adults of the neighborhood as well. The first of these will be opening up the pool to the community one night a week.
On Tuesday evenings, the pool will be staffed by two lifeguards, and can accommodate up to 24 adults at a time. Harold Love, the Senior Director of Operations at the Club, told us that "there is a possibility for expansion (maybe an additional day) in the winter depending on the participation."
The cost for use of the pool is $10 per session, or $80 for a season pass (which includes ten swims). A building access card, which is required, costs an additional $14. Community members must be 19 years of age or older, and present an identification card in order to swim.
"We're trying to get the word out to the neighborhood that there is a local 'swimmin' hole' in the hood," Gail Baugh, VP of HVNA, told us. We'll let you know if more facilities at the Boys & Girls Club become open to the adult community down the line.
