Summer is here, and as excited as we are to take ourselves, our dogs, and our kiddies into the water, the wretched chlorine always makes us hesitate. Do we really want our junk all up in that toxic, stank slop?
The Richmond Plunge in Richmond Point, California is a swimming pool first built in 1926 that has undergone an astounding 10-year, complete facelift. Todd Jersey Architecture, highly regarded as a pioneer in the green architecture movement, stepped in and developed and implemented the renovation plan to transform this community icon into the greenest and healthiest pool in the U.S, if not the world (well, other than the ocean of course!)
How?
It uses solar to heat 324,000 gallons of non-chlorinated saline water in the huge, 60 X 160 foot pool.
No Chlorine! There are 3,500 square feet of solar hot water panels for the pool’s 324,000 gallons of water, 30 kilowatts of solar panels for electricity, 300 operable windows, a hyper-efficient boiler and sophisticated pool pumps. And the pool itself doesn’t use chlorine. It’s a saline pool that uses an ultraviolet disinfectant system. Kids and others are able to swim without goggles.
The many sustainable features make the Plunge the greenest and healthiest public pool in the U.S. Features include new technology for water conservation, energy efficiency and savings, natural ventilation, a repurposed historic mushroom fountain, and even a victory garden on the large underused west side of the structure for growing food for the community. Tens of thousands of gallons of water will be saved annually. Natural ventilation and the reduction of chloramines in the water will make swimming in the Plunge a truly healthy experience.
The $7.5 million pool was paid for through city redevelopment money, funds from a regional voter measure, individual grants and also the donations – some as small as $5 – according to Ellen Strauss, president of the Save the Richmond Plunge Trust. The Richmond Plunge Trust raised money and awareness. They paid for a documentary, held garden tours, sold memorabilia and had a classic car show in the process of raising $500,000.
Back in its day and prior to restoration, the Richmond Plunge was so large that people learned scuba diving (which is good preparation for diving from shore!) and kayaking in the pool. There were programs for the disabled and infants – going on simultaneously. As the City of Richmond evolved, attracting white, black, Latino and Asian Americans, The Plunge was a place that brought everyone together. In November 1997, the City Council realized they did not have the funds to retrofit the building and determined they had no option but to close the Plunge permanently.
Richmond Friends of Recreation, organized in 1979 as a non-profit organization with the purpose of supporting community recreation programs, spearheaded a major rehabilitation of the pool equipment and repainting of the structure. Through the years RFR has sponsored recreation-related activities such as swimming instruction at the Plunge for elementary grade students from local public schools. RFR, responding to appeals of Richmond citizens, is now working with the City in a unique Public/Private Partnership to raise the necessary funds to retrofit, upgrade and reopen the Plunge. It has established a “Save the Richmond Plunge Trust” under its tax-exempt status and has raised over $154,000 in cash and in excess of $40,000 in kind donations from local business owners. RFR has committed to an ambitious campaign of appeals to corporations, foundations, and individuals and a calendar of community events to recruit workers and raise funds.
This is a glorious story of community, green living, and how a group of thoughtful individuals can change and better their world! Let it inspire you to get involved in your community and swim somewhere beautiful this summer.