Hundreds show out for the reopening of Stockton’s Victory Park Pool after the pool had been defunct for more than a decade.
Community members and local officials alike attended Friday’s ribbon cutting for the new outdoor aquatic center at Victory Park near the Haggin Museum.
Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi, Councilmember Mario Enríquez and San Joaquin County Supervisor Paul Canepa all jumped in the pool alongside the community in celebration of the aquatic area’s reopening.
Originally constructed in 1948, the Victory Park Pool has been closed since 2013, according to a city press release. Construction began on the project last fall. The pool has since been “rebuilt as a modern, neighborhood-serving aquatic facility designed for recreation and learn-to-swim programming.”
The renovated aquatic park includes a 75-foot by 28-foot pool, with a depth 3.5 feet in the shallows to 5 feet in the deep end, three swimming lanes, splash pad, new restroom/mechanical building, lifeguard office and ticketing area, city officials say. The area has also included accessibility measure, lighting, parking, landscaping and site improvements.
Fugazi says the pool is part of a “promise to invest in safe, healthy, and fun spaces for every neighborhood.”
“We’re excited to welcome families back to a pool that reflects community input and exceeding today’s standards for safety, accessibility, and year-round enjoyment,” the mayor said in the city’s press release. “This pool will be where our next generation of Stocktonians will learn to swim, have summer jobs lifeguarding and where families will make new memories.”
Renovating the aquatic park cost about $10 million, the city said, funded by various local and state resources, including a final $2.7 million for the project from the California State Parks Local Assistance Specified Grant.
“This pool is more than a place to swim — it’s a reflection of our community’s voice and vision,” District 4 representative Enríquez said in the city’s press release. “From the very beginning, neighbors shaped this project, and together we’ve brought Victory Park Pool back to life. Today, it once again belongs to Stockton — safe, modern, and ready for families to enjoy for years to come.”
Entry to the pool is free through Monday to celebrate the opening, the city says. After that, admission is $3 per person. The pool will be open 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends through the end of September.
Checkout some of the fun from Victory Park Pool’s opening day below:
