Sacramento’s Southside Park Pool is finally reopening. Here’s what to know
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- Southside Park Pool reopens June 14 after a three-year closure for repairs.
- Construction delays stemmed from budget overruns and late project bidding.
- City offers free admission June 14–15 to celebrate reopening with community.
After a three-year-long dry spell, Southside Park Pool is ready to make a splash this summer.
Southside Park Pool will reopen on June 14, Park Planning and Development Services Manager Jason Wiesemann announced at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Access to Southside Park Pool will run until August 17.
The pool at 2107 Sixth Street has been closed to the public since August 2022. The deteriorating fiberglass lining caused swimmers to experience rashes.
“We all look forward to cannonballs together,” said Councilmember Phil Pluckebaum, whose district contains Southside Park. He thanked Mayor Kevin McCarty and District 4 community members for supporting the repairs.
To celebrate, the pool will have free admission June 14 and 15.
An unexpected wait
The replacement of the pool’s lining was expected to be a quick fix. Unanticipated construction costs and inaction by the city created significant delays.
“Staff encountered additional work needed outside of the original scope of the project which extended the construction timeline,” said city spokesperson Gabby Miller.
As well as a new lining, the pool required fixes on its return lines and deck. The additional maintenance exceeded the initial budget and created a funding gap for repairs.
In June 2023, then-Assemblymember McCarty secured $500,000 in state funds for the Southside Park Pool. Despite having the money, the city did not begin renovations that summer. Previous Bee reporting found that the city put the project out to bid 10 months later, more than 100 days after the city had received design drawings for the pool repairs.
Thirty-four months later, the pool is operating swimmingly. In addition to fixes on the pool’s pipes and lining, the city has repainted the locker rooms and the pool house’s exterior.
“It took way longer than it should have,” said Alex Zucco, president of the Southside Park Neighborhood Association. “But I think some of the wait should be worth it.”
The community response
The pool’s reopening coincides with the first weekend of summer recess for Sacramento City Unified School District, so Zucco expects many young visitors.
“We have a great grand reopening planned for the fourteenth,” Zucco said.
In collaboration with the city, the Southside Park Neighborhood Association plans to host activities for youth visiting the pool. Free books will be distributed, and treats like popcorn and cotton candy will be provided.
Sacramento’s 12 neighborhood pools have an admission fee of five dollars for adults and three dollars for children. For Southside Park Pool’s first weekend, though, the city is granting free admission.
Zucco appreciated the city’s support of the neighborhood.
“It has often felt neglected,” Zucco said. “I am happy to see we are having some nice equitable resources for this community.”
This story was originally published May 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM.
