By Robert Haugh
The fabled George F. Haines International Swim Center is tentatively scheduled to re-open in April 2025.
The City released an announcement yesterday:
“We are excited to announce that City of Santa Clara staff met with local swim clubs on Dec. 17 to discuss the International Swim Center (ISC) re-opening. A permit for pool repairs was issued on Dec. 19, during the week of Jan. 6, the pools were drained, and work on the pools began on Jan. 13. The scope of work includes drain and tile repairs, ladder resetting, pool replastering, and facility fencing. The entire project is tentatively set to finish by early April. For updates and information, visit SantaClaraCA.gov/ISC.”
The swim center was suddenly and unexpectedly closed in January 2024 due to unsafe and poor facility conditions.
The City’s Public Facilities and Infrastructure Bond Measure (Measure I) which passed on November 5, 2024 with 69.41 percent voter approval allowed for the issuance of $400 million in general obligation bonds to fund capital improvements in the following categories, including $115 million for Parks, Libraries, Senior Center, and Aquatics Facilities ($115,258,750).
Of that $115 million, there is $45 million designated for Community Aquatic Facility / ISC Renovation/Replacement.
Tucker Construction and Adams Pool Solutions will be conducting necessary repairs for the pending re-opening of this facility from January through March 2025.
On January 13, pool and facility access remediation efforts began (replacing the drain and return covers, fixing the missing/broken tiles, resetting the ladders into the pool deck, replastering the racing and training pools, and facility fencing).
The tentative timeline for construction completion is early April. However, the ISC project and timeline (as with all projects) are subject to unforeseen variables, such as supply chain issues, labor availability, weather, unexpected repairs, and County of Santa Clara permit acquisition.
Now the work of tearing down the locker sheds at ISC and rebuilding new fulling functioning dressing, shower facilities.
So great to hear that the swim center is being renovated and being upgraded and restored for Santa Clara. I grew up with this swim center open and maybe used again for training swimmers for the Olympics!!
Thank you,
Diane Lash
What wonderful news!! I am truly excited and grateful that Santa Clara is renovating the Olympic Pool. It has been such a blessing !
Good News/Bad News
The Good News is that the reopening work is finally underway.
The Bad News is that this should have been started two years ago.
Staff was too busy catering to the 49ers to do the work to keep our pools open.
Wow,
More positive News for our City.
First, Kelly Cox is our New Vice Mayor, now our legendary “George F. Haines International Swim Center” is getting that much needed love and attention that it has been screaming for. How long…. Years.
So what’s next?
49er Council Member Becker’s Sentencing Court Date
Jan 31st, South County Courthouse, Morgan Hill.
By the way, not a great day for our City.
Is this the wake up call our residents have been waiting for?
The much BIGGER question is, are we done with cleaning house?
We shall see. But just think…. if we can get our International Swim Center back, getting control of our own City should be way easier, let’s just hope it doesn’t take as long!!
Burt Field