COVER STORY to what became a room-full of trophies and ribbons.” “Consider that in 2010, more than 2,500 children participated in learn-to-swim classes here, and another 150 signed up for classes to become lifeguards and water safety instructors,” Thorne added. “That happens every year, children, and adults, too, learn how to swim here or join a swim team and learn invaluable life skills that contribute to their overall well-being.” Michelle Stearns, Pleasanton’s event administrator, said the aquatic center is open every day for lap swimming, including most holidays, except Christmas day and Easter Sunday. Water exercise is offered Monday through Friday. Programs start as early at 5 a.m. and go until 9 p.m. As Thorne pointed out, 150 American Red Cross Lifeguards and Junior Lifeguards are trained at the center. Lifeguards must be able to recognize hazardous situations to prevent injury, supervise swimmers, minimize dangers, educate facility users about safety, enforce rules and regulations, provide assistance and perform rescues. “Being a lifeguard carries significant professional responsibility and offers opportunities for both professional and personal growth,” Stearns said. Each year, another 50 are trained to be Red Cross Water Safety Instructors. Their job is to teach people to be safe in, on, and around water through water safety courses, and to conduct water-orientation classes for infants and toddlers, as well as handling the comprehensive Learn-to-Swim program. In addition to the Pleasanton Seahawks and Tri-Valley Masters, the aquatic center also is the home of the DBAC Piranhas, a 173-member summer recreational swim team for those 4 to 18 years old. Stearns said that more than 35,000 go to the Dolores Bengtson Aquatic MIKE SEDLAK (MIKE@DIGITALSIGHT.COM) Swimming pool engineer Steve Blenio checks filtration tanks used to Center each year for recreational and lap swimming and to attend water exkeep water properly treated. ercise classes. N
Deteriorating concrete decks and a need to replace and upgrade what had become an inadequate filtration system caused the City Council to approve the $3.8-million renovation project just completed. The cost for Pleasanton was considerably offset through an agreement by the East Bay Parks District to allocate $3,171,377 in voter-approved bond funds for the aquatic center project. The renovation work included the relocation of the diving pool into the 25 meter pool by way of an L-shaped design, replastering of the pools, installation of access areas in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), deepening the 25-meter pool for future competitive uses, replacing the pool decking and the acquisition and installation of new plumbing, electrical, heating and filtration systems for the pools. The entry way to the aquatic center on Black Avenue also had to be extended to house the large filtration tanks that now serve the pools. “The Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center is one of my favorite spots in Pleasanton,” Mayor Thorne told celebrants at the reopening ceremony. “This is where I spent many happy hours as a proud parent watching my daughter swim her way in Seahawks competitions
MIKE SEDLAK (MIKE@DIGITALSIGHT.COM)
Steve Blenio tests water samples regularly.
CLOCK REPAIR
Timely Service
Free Estimates Free Pick-up & Delivery in Tri-Valley
Byfield’s Clock Shop Call (925) 736-9165 2nd Annual
Fire Safety Expo Come See Your Local Fire Department in Action! SATURDAY, OCT. 12, 2013 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. at the Training Tower, 3333 Busch Road, Pleasanton
This FREE event will feature: Guided Tours of Training Facility Vehicle Fire & Extrication Ladder Truck Demonstration Fire Extinguisher Training
Kids Firefighter Obstacle Course and Child ID Tour our Fire Safety Trailer Information Booths Raffle & Prizes
Livermore-Pleasanton Firefighters Foundation
PANCAKE BREAKFAST to raise money for local charities and the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Donations greatly appreciated.
For more information visit www.lpfire.org or call (925) 454-2361
Dolores Bengtson, the aquatic center’s namesake and retired director of Parks and Community Services, who led the campaign to build the city’s two original pools in 1968, takes a first dip in one of the newly renovated pools.
Serving the Tri-Valley for 30 years MIKE SEDLAK (MIKE@DIGITALSIGHT.COM)
Pleasanton Seahawks swim team practices in newly renovated pools at Dolores Bengtson Aquatic Center where it holds championship Western states meets, including one set for Oct. 19-20.
463-2150
6155 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 100, Pleasanton
2013
(at the corner of Stoneridge & Franklin, between Hopyard & I-680)
Pleasanton WeeklyÊUÊOctober 11, 2013ÊU Page 19