New Bell Gardens Aquatics Center in the works

Bell Gardens resident David Bray is thrilled about the upcoming John Anson Ford Park Aquatics Center, a  $31.27 million project expected to be ready by Summer 2025. Bray, who works with the city’s Department of Parks and Recreation, fondly remembers the old pool. He was a regular visitor in his younger years until it closed in 2017. Now, he is eager to work on maintaining the new aquatic center, reflecting his active involvement in his community as a resident and employee. 

“I grew up here and used to play water polo,” said Bray. “After they closed it, I felt they were taking forever to fix it. I started taking my kids to other cities so they could have fun,” Bray said. 

Reina de la Paz, another long-time Bell Gardens resident, is equally excited. She said she can’t wait to take her two children, a three and a seven year old, to the pool. 

“It makes me very happy because I took my older child to the pool when it was open, but when it closed, I started to take them to other cities like Montebello or Seal Beach,” she said. “That is not good because the money is going to other cities instead of ours.”

De la Paz is grateful that the City is spending a significant amount of money on this project, which will benefit not only Bell Gardens but also the surrounding cities of Southeast Los Angeles. 

Why it shut down

The swimming pool was originally built in 1959. However, as time passed, the wear and tear was not adequately addressed, and its decay was on the verge of causing severe damage to visitors, said Bell Gardens Councilman Marco Barcena. He said he witnessed the deterioration firsthand as he started working as a lifeguard and eventually was promoted to administrative specialist. He said he started noticing the safety issues with the pool and brought it to the council’s attention, but it was not a priority for a while. 

“I would send pictures to our public works department. Obviously, the department can only do so much in-house,” he explained.

Eventually, in 2017, the City finally decided to close it, addressing safety concerns. It took longer to begin construction because the city was not permitted to start the project until they could prove it was fully funded.

The funding finally came about, with contributions from the following entities: $2 million from former Assemblywoman Christina Garcia, $4 million from L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, $6 million from a State Parks grant, $1.5 million from former Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard and $14,600,000 from the City of Bell Gardens general fund, plus $3.17 million from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. 

Project under construction

According to city documents, the old aquatic center contained an unpermitted underground tank, asbestos and lead-based paint in the existing building. Under the supervision of Ardurra Construction Management and Inspection Firm, the City of Bell Gardens issued a notice to proceed with construction, contracting with Bernard, a commercial builder and construction management company on April 9, 2024. The location is currently fenced to demolish the old pool and remove the old filters. This will allow the installation of a new Olympic-sized swimming pool, a therapy pool and a children’s water play area. 

The city’s latest update stated that all the necessary entities have approved the project’s architectural and engineering plans, including the L.A. County Development Authority, L.A. County Department of Public Health, L.A. County Fire Department, and the city’s Building and Safety Division.

The new project is expected to include an ADA-compliant aquatics center building with a lobby, check-in, administrative restrooms with lockers and showers, family changing rooms, lifeguard room and a fitness center, among other essential amenities. Additionally, the project will include 

new shade structures, bleacher seating, performance stage, terraced lawn seating, outdoor fireplace, a monument sign wall, tree and shrub plantings, irrigation and proper fencing and lighting.

While walking inside the perimeter of the new project, Barcena pointed out the locations of each new area of the aquatics center, including the therapy pool to the left of the main entrance and the children’s play area to the right of the entrance.

“There is also going to be an amphitheater to do performances in the open air,” explained Barcena. 

He said the aquatic center could accommodate up to 500 people once completed. That will be very beneficial during the hot summer days when families enjoy spending time at the pool. 

In the meantime, the community is encouraged to visit the Aquatics programming out of Chet Holifield Pool in Montebello, located at Chet Holifield Park, 1060 S. Greenwood Ave.