Rustic Canyon Pool Reopens on Aug. 8
Rustic Canyon Recreation Center pool—Photos: Courtesy of Frank Langen
By Laurel Busby
News & Information Editor
After years of closure, Canyon resident Frank Langen was delighted to find the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center pool open on Aug. 8.
“I can’t believe it, but it’s true,” he said. “It’s definitely worth jumping in; taking a plunge in the heat—perhaps even before the picnic on Monday.”
The pool’s opening day was Aug. 8, according to L.A. Recreation and Parks Facility Manager Jessica Ojeda Machado. Attendance was sparse at first with only two swimmers that day and one on the following day. However, by Aug. 10, 27 people came to swim, and 49 swimmers, including 29 children, came on Aug. 11. Aug. 12 attracted 22 people to enjoy the pool.
Gary Singer, the superintendent of Aquatics and Emergency Management for Recreation and Parks, said, “We are thrilled that it is open and appreciate your help in spreading the word to the community.”
For the remainder of the season, the pool will offer recreational swimming on weekdays from 3-7 p.m. and on weekends from 1-5 p.m. The final day of operation will be Sept. 7 from 1-5 p.m.
“As for future planning, we intend to offer a variety of programs next summer, including Junior Lifeguards, swim team, and swim lessons,” Singer said in an email. “We are also highly open to input from the community regarding specific programming they would like to see at their pool.”
Admission is $4 for adults and $1 for both youth 3-17 years old and people with disabilities. Children 1-2 years old are free. A youth summer swim pass is $10. Exact change is appreciated, according to the staff.
The pool reportedly required extensive repairs to reopen, including installing a new filter system, reconnecting piping, enlarging a backwash core and backwash pipe, installing a pressure amplification system, and replacing both suction pipe and a chemical pump. However, an exact total on these costs was not yet available, according to city staff.
“The cost is very difficult to pinpoint as many of the upgrades were done over the course of several years,” said James Sipotz, who helped oversee the repairs for the city. “To upgrade the filtration system alone was $153,000.”
The pool is located at 601 Latimer Rd. For further information, call (310) 230-0137 or email rusticcanyon.pool@lacity.org.
Another look at the Rustic Canyon Recreation Center pool.
