Manhattan Beach’s Begg Pool could get a major upgrade as part of the master facilities plan that the school district is developing for the next decade. The plan, which the school board was scheduled to vote on at its July 15 meeting, includes a bigger pool in Polliwog Park, adjacent to Manhattan Beach Middle School, projected to cost almost $16 million.
Some members of the swim community hope that the pool will be Olympic-sized. However, a group of residents is concerned that such a pool would become a regional venue for aquatic competitions, bringing increased traffic and parking problems.
The pool’s actual size isn’t clear.
When asked if the pool was intended to be Olympic-sized on July 9, Assistant Superintendent Dawnalyn Murakawa-Leopard said it hadn’t been decided.
“The specific dimensions of the pool have not yet been defined,” she wrote in an email. “What we are indicating is that we will replace Begg Pool with an upgraded facility, but the exact parameters will be developed at a later time. The specific design will be the result of ongoing dialogue with all of our community stakeholders.”
The latest version of the plan, uploaded to the district’s website July 14, appeared to show a square pool that wouldn’t meet Olympic regulations. The existing pool, used by middle school physical education classes, youth swim teams, adult exercise classes and public lap swimming, is much smaller, at 25 yards.
However, the July 15 agenda said the proposed dimensions were 164 feet by 82 feet, which is practically Olympic-sized. But the agenda was accompanied by a note that emphasized exact dimensions “have not been specified.”
Regardless of size, School Board President Bill Fournell said the pool needed to be redone.
“Begg Pool is not really useable,” said School Board President Bill Fournell. “It’s too shallow and old and the facility is outdated.”
Earl Keegan, founder of Beach Cities Swimming, which swims at Redondo High, agreed.
“Begg is so shallow, it really doesn’t lend itself to hosting swim meets, or to even swimming laps…” he said. “We’re sorely lacking in pools.”
Keegan said an Olympic-sized pool “would be a game-changer for the area.”
“It’s really a requirement when you live as close as we do to the beach to know how to swim,” he said.
The Friends of Polliwog Park, however, don’t share Keegan’s enthusiasm. The residents’ group said that an Olympic-sized pool would negatively impact the surrounding community.
“The Olympic-sized swimming pool and large performing arts center are sure to increase noise and traffic to the neighborhood…,” stated a May post on the group’s web site.
“Middle schools don’t have Olympic pools,” Julie Profet, the group’s chair said in an interview. “Even high schools don’t have Olympic pools.”
The school board has countered that it is taking into account the needs of the whole community.
“The need for a larger pool has been identified as a need by the City and has been a part of the City’s planning discussions for some time,” states the school board’s agenda for the July 15 meeting. The agenda also notes that, “Funding for this part of the plan and all of the parts involving improvements to Polliwog Park will be contingent on contributions from the City.”
While discussing the city’s Capital Improvements Plan at the July 7 council meeting, Public Works Director Tony Olmos said that while a new pool, listed as an unfunded project, would cost $3 million, it would cost more than that just to replace Begg Pool at its same size.
Fournell said the school district will enter discussions with the city if the plan is approved on July 15. ER
