CARPINTERIA, Calif. – The City of Carpinteria has opened a capital campaign aimed at raising $3.3 million to repair and preserve its longtime community pool. The facility, a favorite gathering place for generations of families, students and athletes, shows signs of wear that threaten its continued use.
Why the pool needs help
A recent site assessment revealed cracked decking, rusted gutters, corroded depth markers and lifted lobby tiles. Behind the scenes, outdated electrical panels and aging filtration and chemical systems add urgency to the fundraising effort. While the pool is not in immediate danger of closing, the deteriorating infrastructure could soon make it unsafe for swimmers and visitors.
Community impact
The 25‑yard by 25‑meter, 10‑lane pool welcomes more than 24,000 visits each year. It supports a range of programs, including lap swim, swim lessons, youth club swimming, water polo, water aerobics, and serves as the home base for Carpinteria High School’s swimming and water polo teams. Local swimmers describe the pool as “a treasure” and a vital meeting spot for the community.
“It’s a treasure, it’s a great pool,” said longtime swimmer Jeff Naylor. “A lot of communities don’t have pools, and it’s heavily used by the community. Since I’ve been coming here I’ve only seen the number of people that come here increasing, and it’s something we ought to take care of, and we ought to invest in.”
Funding goals and timeline
City officials estimate that a six‑month closure will be needed to complete the repairs, with work slated to begin in the winter of 2027‑2028. Director of Parks, Recreation, and Community Services Jeanette Gant emphasized that the project will focus on preserving the existing pool rather than a complete redesign.
“What’s showing is that the rebar is rusting through and the cracks are pretty deep, and if they’re not repaired, eventually the gutter will continue to crumple, the deck will be compromised, and the pool could become unsafe for use,” Gant explained.
Current progress and ways to help
To date, the city has secured approximately $374,000 through donations from local residents and organizations. Additional fundraising activities will run throughout the year, including the sale of T‑shirts bearing the slogan “Keep Carp Swimming.” All contributions are being processed through the Community Access & Recreation Projects Fund via the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Residents who wish to support the effort can learn more and donate at KeepCarpSwimming.org. The campaign aims to rally the community around a shared resource that promotes health, recreation, and fellowship.
Looking ahead
Restoring the pool aligns with Carpinteria’s broader commitment to providing safe, family‑friendly amenities that strengthen neighborhood bonds. By preserving this cherished facility, the city hopes to ensure that future generations can continue to enjoy swimming, competition and community connection in a safe, well‑maintained environment.
Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.
