VAfter more than a decade of being closed, Stockton’s Victory Park Pool is finally slated to reopen in less than a year. City leaders and community members gathered Wednesday evening to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new pool at 1001 Pershing Avenue, marking the return of a beloved neighborhood fixture.
The original pool, which opened in the late 1940s, was closed in 2013 due to maintenance issues that were deemed beyond repair. Since then, local advocates have pushed for its revival, and now, after years of effort, the project is officially underway.
The new pool, scheduled to open in late summer 2025, will feature a 75-foot swimming pool, a splash pad, ADA-compliant amenities, and updated facilities including new restrooms, a mechanical building, and staff parking. The project, which comes with a $10.2 million price tag, is funded by a combination of city and state resources, including $6 million from Stockton’s Measure M, $2.7 million from California State Parks, $1.1 million from the City Council, and $500,000 secured by State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman.
“It is time for overhaul, and I am glad it is finally getting it,” said Tanya Wilson, a longtime Stockton resident who fondly remembers swimming at Victory Park Pool as a child, a tradition later shared by her own daughter.
City Manager Harry Black emphasized the significance of the pool’s return. “This is a focal point for this neighborhood. We’re excited we can deliver this back to the community,” he said.
Community advocates, including Katya Evanhoe from Friends of Victory Park Pool, have long highlighted the pool’s importance, not just as a recreational facility but as a vital resource for local children to learn swimming. "Pools save lives," Evanhoe said, reflecting on her experiences as a retired schoolteacher. "Young kids need to learn how to swim."
Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln echoed the enthusiasm for the project, saying, “It is projects like this that make Stockton more enjoyable and livable.”
As the community eagerly awaits the pool’s reopening, the return of Victory Park Pool will mark the culmination of years of effort to restore a key neighborhood amenity for future generations to enjoy.