Tahoe Park pool didn’t make the list for the Save Mart “Save Our Pools” campaign, so, faced with the possibility of a dry pool during a hot summer, neighborhood leaders joined forces with a city councilman, a county supervisor and the Sierra Health Foundation to plan their own rescue effort – and succeeded. “The neighborhood just wouldn’t take no for an answer,” City Councilman Kevin McCarty said. “I’m proud of everyone for that.” While Save Mart grocery stores were working with the city of Sacramento to raise $1 million to save six city pools from closure this spring, a contingent of Tahoe Park volunteers and neighborhood association leaders were diligently stuffing envelopes and knocki

For the third year in a row, budget cuts reduced programs and swim hours at local pools, but donations from generous neighbors – and a local rock ’n roll band – pulled together to give water-lovers in East Sacramento additional splash time at Glenn Hall Pool this summer. “It’s going to mean a lot to many people to have the pool to splash around in this summer,” Steve Harriman, River Park Neighborhood Association board member said Wednesday. “For some kids in the city, going to a pool is all they have.” The fundraising campaign will allow the pool to open for recreational swimming from 1 to 5 p.m. on on Fridays and Sundays, June 29 through Aug. 19. Open recreation swim times are also off

With a bit of fanfare, Catherine O'Brien thanked the people and businesses for making the opening of Southside Park Pool happen. Among them were Southside Park Neighborhood Assn (SPNA), City Park and Recreation Director Jim Combs, City Councilmember Rob Fong, City Manager John Shirey, YMCA CEO Jay Lowrey and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Jay Hansen. She said "Thank You" to sponsors Southside Motors, Inc, Thomas Advocacy Group, Inc, Southside Park Co-Housing and Geremia Pools, Inc. After the thanks and congratulations concluded many took the plunge into the pristine-looking pool. Here's those in Michael Phelps mode:   To read Melissa Corker's preview of the pool opening - <<<CLI

Cool blue water will be ready and waiting for swimmers at the Southside Park Pool grand opening party Friday – and one lucky swimmer will win the privilege of taking the first plunge in the pool since 2010. “The pool has just been filled, so it’ll be nice and cool for everyone,” Southside Park Neighborhood Association member Catherine O’Brien said Thursday. O’Brien and a group of her neighbors banded together in March to get the Southside Park Pool opened because it was not included in the recent Save Mart Save Our Pools Campaign, which raised $1 million to keep six other city pools open for the summer. In May, an agreement was reached between the city of Sacramento and the YMCA of Supe

Grab your swimsuits and your goggles kids because it’s official: Southside Park Pool will be open this summer from June 16 through Labor Day. The pool has been closed since August 2010 when city funding for local pools ran out. The recent “Save Our Pools” campaign raised $1 million to keep six city pools open for another summer, but the Southside Park Pool was not on that list. When the pool reopens in June, it will be operated by the local YMCA organization instead of the city through an operating agreement that was approved Friday. Neighborhood leaders Catherine O’Brien and Alice Levine of the Southside Park Neighborhood Association worked closely with the YMCA and the city Parks and

Through the efforts of City of Sacramento Councilmember Rob Fong, the YMCA of Superior California, the City of Sacramento Parks and Recreation Department and the Southside Park Neighborhood Association, the Southside Park Community Pool will be open for swimmers this summer from June 16 through Labor Day. “This is a great example of community partners working toward a common goal that benefits our most important citizens: our kids,” said Councilmember Rob Fong. “Opening Southside Park Community Pool would not have happened this summer without YMCA’s commitment to this community.” Last year, Councilmember Fong initiated discussions with the YMCA when it was apparent the City would have t

Sacramento’s pools will be open this summer as the Save Our Pools campaign announced Thursday that it raised $1 million through individual donors, corporate donors and a $500,000 match by Save Mart Supermarkets. The campaign kicked off Feb. 14 with a goal of funding local pools so the same ones that were open last summer will be open this year. "It takes collaboration from all types and sizes to make a great city. Thanks to the efforts of Save Mart and its customers and vendors, plus our business community and residents from across the region, kids and families will have swimming pools available this summer in Sacramento. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off the summer," Mayor Ke

It’s a chilly January morning.  Shivering, swimsuit-clad bodies surround Clunie Pool waiting for the countdown of the Polar Bear Plunge. In unison, the swimmers leap into the bracing 48-degree water. Like a comic film being rewound, they just as quickly leap back onto the pool deck. Most lasted a full three seconds before returning to the warmth of their towels and hot coffee. What manner of motivation brought these hardy souls to the first annual Polar Bear Plunge sponsored by the City of Sacramento?  For most, it was a chance to support city pools. All proceeds of the event go towards keeping the pools open in the summer. Lesley Henriquez encouraged her daughter Gracie to take the plun

Community centers in Sacramento got a boost Tuesday when the City Council approved more than $459,000 in funding to close the gap between what the centers have and what they need to stay open until next year’s budget is passed. Council members voted unanimously to take $459,188 from the city’s Economic Uncertainty Reserve – money that initially came from cell phone tower profits in each district – to pay for labor, supplies and services necessary for the remainder of the fiscal year. The total funding necessary to maintain operation of the city’s 15 community centers was $917,000 in the 2010-11 fiscal year, according to Dave Mitchell, division manager for the Dept. of Parks and Recreatio

Sacramento City Council and hundreds of residents Tuesday night listened to details of a $1.8 million general fund cut to parks and recreation that would leave only three of the city’s 13 swimming pools open by Summer 2012 and area parks in a state of decline amid reductions in park maintenance, trash pick up and general repairs. Pools and green spaces are two potential casualties of a $39 million city deficit that could impact residents in large and small ways, including a swim on hot day or a drink of water from a park faucet. Parks and recreation director Jim Combs said six area pools would remain open this summer including George Sim, Clunie, Pannell Meadowview, McClatchy, Johnston a

For a second consecutive summer, Sacramento residents are dealing with limited hours at local swimming pools. But the situation could get a lot worse next summer, when the city is planning to close seven pools. Community groups are already brainstorming ways to keep their neighborhood swimming pools open in 2011. To counter a $43 million budget gap in June, city leaders made numerous cuts to city departments and services, including the rollback of pool services next summer. Pools also received cuts last year. Residents must work around the city’s tight schedules for recreational swimming. At many pools, recreational swimming is only available for only two hours at a time, Mitchell said.