Local Residents Ecstatic Local Aquatic Landmark Set to Reopen Its Gates Just in Time for Spring
Social media posts on Facebook and Nextdoor.com announce that the Bud Kearns Memorial Pool in Morley Field is set to reopen to swimmers on March 12, 2022.
The pool was initially closed late in 2019 for mandatory upgrades to the facility to meet California health code requirements. The initial cost projection was slated to be north of $3.25 million dollars. Final costs have not yet been announced, though they should be released by the City of San Diego in the near future.
The latest estimates put the project at $3.7 million dollars.
Opened in 1933 and named after William "Bud" Kearns, the pool is the city's oldest municipal public pool. At the time of its closure, it was showing its age as indicated by the 20-month timeline for renovation.
The pool had just undergone retrofitting in 2015 and was reopened to the public at that time. Then council member Todd Gloria announced the reopening on Twitter in 2015.
At the time of the last repair, half of the City's pools south of Interstate 8, and none of the pools north of Interstate 8 were closed for repairs prompting community leaders to cry favoritism by then Mayor Faulconer.
What's certain in 2022 is that residents are ready for their local pool to be opened once again. Upgrades include ADA compliant locker rooms and showers, ADA compliant pathways to the pool deck, and drinking fountains. In addition, the pool repair itself.
The initial construction window was the first six months of 2020, but the project was significantly delayed during the COVID pandemic.
The Bud Kearns Memorial Pool is located at 2229 Morley Field Drive.