PITTSBURG – Kids and swimmers will soon be splashing around again in the Ambrose Park Pool after being shut down for seven years.
“I used to work at Ambrose Park when I was younger,” said Supervisor Federal Glover, “so I know the value that the pool provides for the community.”
The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors approved Tuesday morning the release of Keller Canyon mitigation funds to help fill in the shortfall for the cost of repairing the pool to bring it up to code. The action, at Glover’s instigation, released a total of $250,000 from the county: $150,000 from the fees collected from the Keller Canyon Landfill for the fiscal year 2015-16 and will draw upon $100,000 from the anticipated fees to be collected in 2016-17.
Glover met with the park district and the City of Pittsburg to hammer out an agreement to pay the $682,000 needed to include a contingency fund and bridge the gap and between the original repair estimate to bring the pool up to new state standards, which forced its closure in 2009.
The balance of the funding gap will be split between Pittsburg and the park district, which encompasses parts of western Pittsburg and the unincorporated community of Bay Point.
“As a resident and board member of the Ambrose District, I am so pleased that Supervisor Federal Glover and the City of Pittsburg are helping us complete the pool project,” said park district board member Mae Cendana Torlakson. “This cooperative effort demonstrates how great teamwork among agencies helps serve our families and children.”
The Pittsburg City Council approved the city’s portion of the funding last March 21. “Ambrose Pool is important to families in Pittsburg as well as Bay Point,” said Pittsburg Mayor Ben Johnson. “The additional funds move us closer to the pool re-opening, so the kids can swim there again.”
According to Ambrose General Manager Doug Long, the pool should reopen Memorial Day of 2017. “The renovation project has inspired a great deal of community spirit and we’re looking forward to providing the public with a refreshed pool facility,” said Long. “Without the support of County Supervisor Federal Glover and Board of Supervisors along with the City of Pittsburg City Council and staff, this project may not have come to fruition.”
The popular swimming pool complex, which first opened in the 1940s, closed down seven years ago because it didn’t meet modern safety standards. After several design and cost revisions and several community meetings, the new facility will feature a renovated pool and pool deck, a new bathhouse, and upgraded landscaping. The new pool will host a variety of activities including swim lessons, recreational swim, water aerobics, and special events for the entire family.
“Residents have been waiting a long time for their pool,” said Glover. “I hope that the pool opening will once again serve as a way to bring the community together.”
2 comments
Finally fixed after SEVEN years?!? Must be re-election time. Would he have fixed the pool if he didn’t have four opponents running for his seat?
Nice gift for Mae Torlakson by Supervisor Glover to help her Assembly seat campaign. Seven years of a closed community pool and a million dollars in lost community funds during Mae’s watch on the Ambrose Recreation and Park District Board that should have never happened. Bay Point Community’s $6 million share from Keller Canyon Mitigation Fund the past 6 years has mostly gone to supplement the County Budget as Glover ignored the community pool crisis! The KCMF is tightly controlled by Supervisor Glover. A few years ago, the ARPD and community members pleaded with him personally and before the CCC Supervisor Board for pool funds and a better share of the community’s KCMF money to no avail. Political “behind the scene” favors finally accomplished what the community itself was unable to do. Which leaves me to ask: Why not a little more money Mr. Glover, so we can have the pool the community actually wanted instead of this watered down version!
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