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STOCKTON, Calif. — The Victory Park Pool in Stockton has officially reopened after being closed for more than a decade, just in time for the long holiday weekend. This reopening is a source of excitement for the community, which has been eagerly awaiting the return of this beloved landmark.
The pool’s new features include three swim lanes, a splash pad, and ADA-accessible upgrades, all aimed at ensuring a more inclusive experience. The pool’s original site, which first opened in the 1940s, had to close in 2013 due to extensive maintenance issues.
“Warms my heart,” said Stockton Mayor Christina Fugazi. “I almost started to cry when I saw all these kids coming here because their parents learned how to swim here and their parents’ parents, their grandparents learned how to swim here.”
The long-awaited reopening was driven by years of advocacy from local residents like Katya Evanhoe, who emphasized the importance of the pool for public health.
“Everyone deserves this. This is what a healthy city does,” Evanhoe said. “All these little kids and the little three-year-olds that I talked to 12 years ago who didn’t know how to swim. They will get to learn how to swim here.”
Victory Park’s closure had left a gap for local children, but with the pool back, families are excited to create new memories.
“We used to hang out here from the time it opened to the time they closed. Yeah, all summer,” said Chata Espita, a nearby resident who learned to swim at the pool as a child.
Now, a new generation of Stockton kids will enjoy the same experiences.
The city is urging neighbors to help keep the pool clean and well-maintained so that it never faces closure again.
Victory Park Pool hours:
The pool will be open weekends (Saturday-Sunday) from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. through September 28. Admission is free this weekend, including Labor Day, and will be $3 per person after that.
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