After 12 years of drought, the oasis that is Victory Park Pool has finally replenished its waters for the Stockton community. The pool's grand reopening last Friday saw residents flocking to its cool embrace, eager to beat the heat in a summer send-off that had them lining up by Saturday. "It's great. We haven't had a pool over here in a long time, so it's really fun," Diana Carpenter, a local resident, told CBS News Sacramento.
Since shuttering in 2013 due to leaks and mechanical failures, the pool has been sorely missed—a fact not lost on residents who had to trek beyond the city limits to find a suitable swimming spot. The community's patience, it seems, has been duly rewarded. Renovations were made possible by Measure M and a generous helping from state funding, allowing residents to finally dive back in during an especially toasty holiday weekend. "I was happy because it was very hot out here and I wanted to go swimming," Brooklyn, a 10-year-old local, explained in an interview with CBS News Sacramento.
The city's investments didn't just stop at fixing up an old watery hole, though. The refurbished landmark now boasts a 75-foot pool and an added splash pad to keep both nostalgia and present day amusement in check. "We're excited," Judy Limon expressed in an interview provided by KCRA. And in a touching nod to past memories and future potential, Susana Patterson, also interviewed by KCRA, shared that she learned to swim there 47 years ago, her narrative linking generations.
Mayor Christina Fugazi highlighted the effort as a community triumph. "I get a little teary-eyed about it," Mayor Fugazi told KCRA. "It's been 12 years and the community has just said, 'Don't forget about us.'" It was a promise seemingly kept by the city as the construction, spurred by a passed sales tax in 2016 for recreation facilities, kicked off last October. The pool is set to maintain its newly regilded doors open weekends through September, charging a modest admission of $3 post-Labor Day.
For a city to just now have to relearn the joy of community pools underscores the impact of this particular locale. "That's the best part, seeing the joy on the kids’ faces and delight because they deserve to be able to be in the pool and experience this," Carrie Patterson told KCRA.
