Don Castro Swim Lagoon in Hayward Closed for 2009 Season

 The East Bay Regional Park District’s popular Don Castro Regional Recreation Area’s swim lagoon is closed for the summer swim season to allow for a redesign project on the 45 year old facility. The 1.5 acre lagoon has been a popular summer swim destination since the 1960s however the aging facility has been in need of major updates to its pumping and filtration systems.  While the swim lagoon is closed, the park itself is open, including picnic areas and trails.

The current project is the second and final planned phase in an overall redesign effort to make operating the lagoon more cost effective. In 2007, the Park District renovated the floor of the lagoon to decrease the depth of the water in anticipation of updating the lagoon walls, circulation and treatment systems.  This redesign will also upgrade the facility to be ADA accessible, an important goal for the Park District. 

Park construction and design staff had hoped to complete the project prior to July 4 to allow for a late summer swim season, however, permit issues prevented them from starting earlier.  It now appears that the swim lagoon will be closed for the entire swim season.

The Park District suggests the following swim alternatives: Cull Canyon, 18627 Cull Canyon Road in Castro Valley; Quarry Lakes, 2100 Isherwood Way in Fremont, CA; Shadow Cliffs (lake), 2500 Stanley Blvd. in Pleasanton. The District also offers Lake Anza in Tilden Regional Park and Roberts Pool at Roberts Regional Recreation Area in Oakland as nearby swim facilities. All have life guards on duty and are open weekly until 6pm, Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day. 

Check the Swim Facilites page, for open times and fees.