Manteca Needs A New Pool Complex

Residents envision a spacious new pool complex with features to accommodate more swim lessons, team activities, lap swimming, and water polo. Desired amenities include water attractions, a lazy river, locker room showers, and lighting for early morning and evening use. Enclosing the building for year-round activities is also a priority.

Manteca, Calif. – The demand for a new swimming pool in the City of Manteca continues to grow. Lincoln Pool, built in the 1960s, no longer meets the needs of Manteca’s expanding population. With heavy use for swim lessons, swim teams, and the addition of a water polo team, the limitations of the pool are clear. The six-lane pool, with a depth of 3.5 to 5 feet, isn’t suitable for water polo, and the high demand for swim lessons means the pool is fully booked from morning until evening during the summer months.

“Our pool was built for a much smaller population and can’t accommodate our current needs,” said Brandy Clark, Recreation and Community Services Manager. Despite its limitations, the pool remains a vital part of the community, with sixty trained lifeguards overseeing lessons and activities.

City residents use the pool heavily in June and July. The demand for swimming lessons exceeds the City’s ability to deliver. Four to five hundred children and adults take swimming lessons every two weeks. More than 2,500 lessons were delivered last year, and the same amount is expected this year. “Open swim on the weekends has 50 to 100 people participating,” Clark adds.

Eric Culpepper, Recreation Supervisor, emphasized the need for year-round programming. “Lincoln Pool operates only three months a year. We aim to provide year-round options, including water polo, swim lessons, lap swimming, and water exercise.” The scorching summer temperatures and limited amenities like shade and seating further highlight the need for an upgraded facility.

The Manteca Dolphins swim team, founded in the early 1970s, faces space constraints with its 200 members aged 5 to 18. The lack of available space forces many high-level swimmers to seek opportunities elsewhere. While three local high schools offer water polo, public access is limited due to school tournaments.

Community Vision for a New Pool Complex

Residents envision a spacious new pool complex with features to accommodate more swim lessons, team activities, lap swimming, and water polo. Desired amenities include water attractions, a lazy river, locker room showers, and lighting for early morning and evening use. Enclosing the building for year-round activities is also a priority.

The estimated cost for a new pool complex is $25 to $30 million on existing city-owned land. If additional land is needed, costs could rise significantly. For context, Sacramento’s pool complex, completed in 2019, cost $45 million and took over two years to build.

 “With current budget challenges, a new pool complex is a distant goal, but we are exploring funding strategies to make that dream a reality for our residents,” said Clark.

Swim Programming at Lincoln Pool

Lincoln Pool is open for the summer season! See flyer below for open swim hours and fees. For information on swim lessons and family swim passes, visit www.manteca.gov or call the Recreation Services Department at (209) 456-8600.