Union City Swimmers Rejoice

One year ago, the Union City Community Pool was forced to drain it's water, due to costly repairs. But on Monday, to the excitement of many, the pool reopened.

"I've been a lifeguard here for ten years, but I started swimming and taking swimming lessons when I was three years old," said Carley Gilson, the Aquatics Facilitator at the Union City Community Pool.

Gilson said for the past few months, she has received a lot of negative feedback over the pool being closed. 

"Many, many people use this pool. Swim lessons, water aerobics, open swim, family swim," she explained.

But, to reopen the pool, the district needed to raise $250,000. School Board President George Trauner put together a committee to make it happen.

"I said we needed to do a capital campaign to raise the money, got together with some school faculty, they made a video which we used to go out and tell our story," said Trauner.

The pool committee made their first request to the Union City Community Foundation for a pledge of $105,000, and in six months they raised the rest of the money from local community members and businesses.

"My goal was, if I could get the community foundation on board, then the rest would follow and it actually did," said Trauner.

The pool first opened in 1977, quickly becoming a community staple, which helped to encourage the local community to get the pool up and running as quickly as possible.

"We wouldn't be open today if it wasn't for the community. They are just so giving," said Gilson.

The pool welcomed it's first swimmers on Monday evening. 

For pool times and pricing: http://www.ucasd.org/Pool/Pool.html