After more than a decade of emptiness, Victory Park’s pool is finally on its way to restoration.
The Stockton community gathered for the groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 23, hosted by Friends of Victory Park Pool, a dedicated group of local residents who have worked to bring life and excitement back into the park.
The pool holds deep historical significance for Stockton. Originally built in 1948 to honor World War II veterans, it has long been a place for families to gather and create lasting memories. Katya Evenhoe, a founding member of Friends of Victory Park Pool, returned to Stockton in 2010 and was heartbroken to find the pool dry and abandoned. Remembering the many birthdays, celebrations, and hot summers spent swimming with friends and family, she knew something had to be done
“Five years ago, we were over there trying to drum up support for Victory Park Pool,” Evenhoe recalled. “A little girl, around 5 years old, ran to the fence in her red dress and asked her mother, ‘Mommy, Mommy, can we swim?’ The pool was empty, cracked, and filled with dirty water and her mom said to her, ‘Not today,’ I walked over and told them, ‘We’re going to get this pool filled for you!’ ”
Over the years, Evenhoe and the Friends of Victory Park Pool, including Miguel Guillen, a neighborhood activist, rallied the community and pressed city officials for support via social media and public comments at City Hall. Guillen has been helpful in advocating for the pool’s renovation, facing significant challenges along the way.
“The hardest part was always hitting a wall with Stockton’s City Council,” he said. “We were constantly asking questions and not getting answers, like why $2 million of Victory Park’s pool fund was transferred to another entity. It felt unfair, especially since they claimed the pool was on a tight budget when that $2 million could have been used for a swim-friendly design that the neighborhood requested.”
Their persistence had finally paid off.
“It’s been a decade. Without Friends of Victory Park Pool, this event wouldn’t even be happening,” Evenhoe said. “We badgered and badgered until they finally broke. Who knows? Maybe we just wore them down,” she said.
Reflecting on the long journey, Evenhoe emphasized the power of community action.
“The thing I’ve noticed about all cities is that officials come and go, but we, the residents, are the ones who live here. It’s up to us to advocate for the things we want for this town. Especially in Stockton, where progress can be slow.”
Guillen also mentioned that while the community initially hoped for a larger, six-lane pool to accommodate swim teams, they are still optimistic for the future.
“We’re getting the same size pool that the community can enjoy, but we’re still hoping to have swim lessons and lifeguards,” he said.
Now, thanks to those efforts, the long-awaited renovation is officially underway. The project has a budget of approximately $10 million. This includes $2.7 million from California State Parks and Recreation through SB 129, $500,000 in state funding secured by Sen. Susan Talamantes Eggman, $6 million from the Strong Communities Measure M, and an additional $1.1 million authorized by the City Council from discretionary funds.
The restoration will include major upgrades, such as resurfacing the pool, installing a new splash pad for children, new restrooms, a new pool house, a mechanical building, and light parking for the pool staff.
Looking ahead, Guillen and other community members plan to organize a nonprofit event to host events and raise funds to keep the pool open longer and provide staffing for lifeguards.
Stockton resident Porscha Crusto, who attended the groundbreaking ceremony, was excited to hear about the changes and progress being made at Victory Park. Her only concern was whether the city was going to stick to the schedule and keep the project on time.
“We won’t know until 2025; I won’t hold my breath, but it is nice to see them in action after all this time because I feel like the money got approved a couple years ago and then the ball just dropped.”
With construction slated to be completed by Memorial Day weekend in May of 2025 the community is looking forward to the grand reopening of the pool, which will once again serve as the heart of Victory Park.