UPDATED: City Pool to Be Open This Summer After All

Update: According to the city's March 9 newsletter, the Dolores Bengston Aquatic Center WILL be open this summer after all, due to a change in the construction schedule.

I'm sure my friends with pools shall rejoice, to know that my family won't be camped out on their doorsteps 24-7 when it gets hot!

Here's the blog I wrote recently when I found out it was scheduled to be closed:

I was happily settled down with my Spring 2012 Activities Guide, all ready to plot out my children's activity-packed summer so Mommy ends up sane come fall.

Imagine my utter despair to find out that the best deal in town for tiring the kids out — a family swim pass at the Dolores Bengston Aquatic Center — won't be an option because the three westside pools will be closed for a year starting this April for a massive makeover project. (The 50-meter lap pool will remain open.)

Does the city have any idea how this half-a-million dollar project (part of $36 million in four years worth of city fix-it-up efforts) will destroy the lives of countless children and their frazzled parents this summer?

OK, I know the pools need to be fixed. Two are 43 years old, and the diving pool is 36. When I broke the news to my kids, my 10-year-old daughter shrugged and said, "Yeah, well they are kind of crappy." After I told her not to use the word "crappy," I did have to agree that the repairs are much needed.

But still! It gets insanely hot out here in the Tri-Valley, and the pools are right in the middle of town, so conveniently located. I was even hoping at 8 and 10 they'd be old enough to ride their bikes there — gasp — alone this year, though I actually enjoy going with them and camping out on the beautiful lawn under a pine tree and reading or typing on my Patch laptop while they splash.

A few project highlights, according to an article in the activities guide (page 34 in the accompanying PDF):

• New smooth surface decking. 
• Re-plastering of all three pools.
• An infinity look for the 25-meter pool.
• Relocation of the diving pool to the 25-meter pool. 
• Multiple plumbing, heating and electrical improvements.

Apparently the city is trying to work out agreements with other pools to offer some of its programs, so stay tuned to the city website for updates.

I guess now we'll have to go to Dublin or San Ramon if we want to swim, wasting lots of time and gas. Or, we will be bothering my friends with pools. I can see the texts now. Kari: Hi Irina how are you? Irina: Yeah, you can come over and swim.