Supervisor Carmen Chu: Pool Opens, Clean-up Day

On Saturday, Dec. 20, I had the privilege of joining two of my predecessors - Assemblywoman Fiona Ma and state Sen. Leland Yee - in the grand opening ceremonies for the new Sava Pool.

More than 100 community members, including current and former swimmers, joined the SF Recreation and Park Department for the unveiling of our treasured community recreation facility. Standing alongside Assemblywoman Ma and Sen. Yee as we cut the ribbon for the new pool was truly a remarkable experience, because it really took the efforts of three generations-worth of supervisors to see this project through.

When Sava Pool opened at 19th Avenue and Wawona Street in the 1950s, Sunset District families flocked to it, making it the most popular pool in the City. About five decades later, time and use had taken its toll, and Sava Pool closed in June 2007 for a 30-month rebuild.

Construction of the pool, which cost about $17 million, ended on time and on budget. The new Sava Pool is new in every sense of the word. There are brand new locker rooms, showers and restrooms, as well as a new multipurpose room for community events and gatherings. The old pool had six 33-yard lanes, but the new pool has eight 25-yard lanes to meet regulation size and allows for the expansion of programs at the pool.

Through a partnership with the SF Public Utilities Commission, the pool water will be partially heated by solar panels on the roof.

General admission to the pool is the same as all public pools in the City - $1 for children under 17 years and $4 for adults.

I also want to take this opportunity to thank the countless numbers of community members who have worked tirelessly throughout the years to serve as important advocates of the rebuild project. Without you, the new Sava Pool would not be here today or for generations to come.

New Stern Grove/Pine Lake Park Clean-Up
Due to a large interest in keeping Pine Lake Park clean and safe for our community and pets, we have partnered with the Recreation and Park Department to begin a new monthly Stern Grove/Pine Lake Park Volunteer clean-up effort.

Our first day is Saturday, Jan. 10, from 9 to 11 a.m. Supplies will be provided for all volunteers who would like to help pick up litter, clear the dog-run area and remove graffiti. Meet at Pine Lake Park, inside Stern Grove, accessible through the parking lot at Vale Drive.

For more information, please contact our office at (415) 554-7460 or chustaff@sfgov.org. Spread the word!

Carmen Chu is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 4.