Park District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Roberts Pool at Roberts Regional Recreation Area
The East Bay Regional Park District celebrated the grand opening of the new Roberts Pool at Roberts Regional Recreation Area on April 27 with visitors and special guests. The pool is now open to the public for swimming on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The newly renovated pool provides additional swimming opportunities for the community. Visitors can now enjoy the increased size of the pool, including additional shallow areas for recreational activity, swim lessons and other training, and an upgraded changing room.
“The Roberts Pool project was recently awarded the 2024 California Association of Recreation and Park Districts’ Award of Distinction for Outstanding Renovated Facility,” said Park District Board President Elizabeth Echols. “The pool is an important community resource and top-tier amenity brought to the public by the East Bay Regional Park District.”
The original Roberts Pool was constructed for the park’s opening in 1953 and has served as a public recreational facility until its recent closure for this renovation. Programs traditionally offered at the pool include group and private swim lessons, recreational swimming, and special times set aside exclusively for swimmers with disabilities.
“Roberts Pool has been an important cultural cornerstone for the community,” said Park District Board Member Dee Rosario. “It is a place where countless numbers have learned to swim, and generations of families have gathered to recreate and picnic together.”
The Roberts Pool Renovation Project was made possible through funding from California State Parks, Measure WW, Regional Parks Foundation, the Park District, and a generous bequest from John and Elouise Sutter.
“What could be more inviting than an outdoor pool in such a beautiful setting as Roberts Regional Recreation Area, surrounded by redwoods,” said East Bay Regional Park District General Manager Sabrina Landreth. “We hope the award-winning facility will continue to provide the public with enjoyment for many years to come.”
The pool capacity has doubled from the original size, with additional shallow areas for recreation, swim lessons, and training. It is a significant improvement over the previous pool, as the new configuration accommodates both lap swimming and swim lessons or other programming simultaneously in the shallow end of the pool. Visitors can also now enjoy a new public changing room building and restrooms with gender-neutral facilities and ADA access.
The new pool complex features six competition swim lanes and two cool-down lanes, approximately 5,600 square feet, including additional shallow areas for recreation, swim lessons, and training. Programs offered at the pool include group and private swim lessons, recreational swim, and fitness swimming. The pool is open on weekends and holidays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will also be open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting June 10.
Visit the Roberts Pool webpage for more information. Enjoy photos of Roberts Pool and facilities.
The East Bay Regional Park District is the largest regional park system in the nation, comprising 73 parks, 55 miles of shoreline, and over 1,330 miles of trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, and environmental education. The Park District receives an estimated 30 million visits annually throughout Alameda and Contra Costa counties in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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