The Plunge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids The Plunge |
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| General information | |
| Location | Richmond, California |
| Coordinates | 37°55′27.84″N 122°23′2.82″W / 37.9244000°N 122.3841167°W |
| Completed | 1926 |
The Richmond Plunge, also known as The Plunge, is a famous old swimming center. It is located in the Point Richmond area of Richmond, California. This special building was closed in August 2001 for important repairs to make it safe from earthquakes. It opened again in August 2010 and is now open for everyone to enjoy swimming.
Contents
The Plunge's Story: A Look Back in Time
The Plunge was built because people in Richmond wanted a great place to swim. They voted for a "bond issue" in 1926. This means the city borrowed money to pay for the building, and citizens agreed to pay it back over time.
When it first opened, The Plunge was a very modern building for its time. It had two floors and a huge indoor warm water swimming pool. This pool was twice the size of an Olympic pool! It also had a fountain, places for people to watch, and a high ceiling with open beams. This design reminded some people of the famous Sutro Baths in San Francisco.
Challenges and Repairs: Keeping The Plunge Safe
Over many years, the building started to show its age. The walls, made of clay tiles, began to crack. This happened after 76 years without much repair. A group called Richmond Friends of Recreation (RFR) was formed in 1979. They helped fix the pool equipment and repaint the building.
The Plunge was also damaged by the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. This earthquake caused even more problems for the old building. In 1997, people in Richmond voted against a plan to fix the building. The city council then thought they might have to close The Plunge forever because it was not safe. Even so, people were allowed to swim there until August 2001, but they had to know they were swimming "at their own risk."
When there was talk of tearing down The Plunge, many people in the community spoke up. The RFR group worked with the city in a special way. They created a "Public/Private Partnership." This meant the community and the city worked together to raise money to fix and reopen The Plunge. The building is in the Point Richmond Historic District, which is a special place listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This meant that all the repairs had to be done carefully so the building's history would not be harmed.
Bringing The Plunge Back to Life: The Restoration Project
The Richmond Friends of Recreation started a special fund called the "Save the Richmond Plunge Trust." They raised over $154,000 in money and more than $40,000 in gifts from local businesses. They worked hard to get help from companies, groups, and people. They also held many community events to get volunteers and raise more money.
An architect named Todd Jersey helped a lot with the project. He gave hundreds of hours of his time for free. He wanted to make The Plunge the most eco-friendly public pool in the country. He even raised part of the roof to add more windows. This helped bring in more fresh air and natural light. The building now has over 170 windows, and 132 of them can open and close.
The first part of the big repair project started in August 2008. The Plunge is easy to get to from Interstate 580 and by taking AC Transit bus line 72M Macdonald.
Images for kids
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Mural of Miller/Knox Regional Park lagoon
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Exterior scaffolding
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Pool excavation
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Side galleries
