San Diego Union-Tribune (Sunday)
HISTORIC POOL REOPENS IN BALBOA PARK
Facility named for Bud Kearns got $2.6 million in upgrades
Out of commission for two years, Bud Kearns Municipal Pool — San Diego’s oldest public pool — was ceremoniously reopened Saturday morning with a ribbon-cutting event that was followed by a popular water aerobics class and open swim time.
“This is our local pool. We’ve been swimming here for about five or six years,” said Michele O’connor. The 69-year-old South Park resident is a regular participant in the city-run water fitness program that officially resumed with the pool’s soft opening on March 12. “It’s beautiful, the way they redid the pool. They’ve kept it historically accurate.”
Opened Jan. 1, 1933, the historic pool in Balboa Park’s Morley Field Sports Complex is named after William A. Kearns, who retired from his post as the city’s recreation director in 1948. The nearly 90-year-old facility was shuttered along with other public facilities early in the pandemic, and then remained closed as construction work, which started in May 2020, dragged on due to supply chain issues and labor shortages.
Extensive renovations totaling $2.6 million — $3.6 million if you include staff time — were required to replace outdated infrastructure, make the pool compliant with state health code standards and accommodate people with disabilities.
“We tried to preserve as much as possible of that historic feeling, and so we kept the dimensions the same but basically everything underground is new,” said Nicole Mcneil, who is the district manager of aquatics for San Diego’s Parks and Recreation Department.
There’s a new piping system, a new mechanical system, and a new water recirculation and overflow recovery system that meets the Department of Environmental Health’s requirements, she said. Other improvements include a new pool deck, pool stairs, risers, handrails and deck edging, as well as an Ada-compliant path leading from the parking area to the pool deck.
Mayor Todd Gloria and Councilmember Stephen Whitburn participated in Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside Gina Dulay from the parks department and John Kearns and Carol Nicolson, the grandchildren of Bud Kearns.
“I would say we got 90 years of good use out of the previous construction,” Gloria said. “It was time to make an investment, and we have done that, and I think the results speak for themselves. Investments by the city helped return this magnificent public asset back to its original glory.”
Currently, the city is hosting limited programs at the pool, such as a youth water polo program and a water fitness class. The city plans to expand offerings to include swim lessons for children.
North Park resident Abigail Lum hopes to take advantage of the latter offering for her 3- and 4-year-old kids, Emilia and Miles, once available.
“It’s our neighborhood pool so we’ve been watching construction for who knows how long,” the 40-year-old mom said before the family of four took advantage of Saturday’s free recreational swim hours. “We want this to be (our kids’) community pool.”
The aquatics center at 2229 Morley Field Drive has resumed operations on a limited basis due to staffing shortages. The pool, which is kept between 81 degrees and 83 degrees, is open from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Drop-in admission to the public facility costs $2 for kids and seniors, and $4 for adults.