City Commission Will Dive Into Status of Robinson Park Pool

Pasadena’s Recreation and Parks Commission on Tuesday will receive a report by the Department of Public Works on ongoing renovation work for the Robinson Park Pool and Pool Building located at 1081 North Fair Oaks Avenue.

The City is seeking a grant for $8.5 million from the Statewide Park Development and Community Revitalization Program Round 3 grant cycle administered by the California Department of Parks and Recreation Office of Grants and Local Services. The program is funded with about $650 million by Proposition 68, according to a preliminary report from the City’s Public Works Department.

The grant application was submitted in August following an extensive public outreach effort by the City, including hosting six events between May and July, which allowed community members to provide ideas about programming and amenities for the new pool and pool building facility.

The preliminary report showed some elements of the grant application project scope are currently funded in the fiscal year 2020-2024 Capital Improvement Program; additional unfunded elements will be added should the City be successful in receiving grant funds.

The whole renovation project will include constructing a new pool and new pool building, renovating the outdoor basketball court to include installing a shade structure, replacing the gymnasium roof, and replacing the gymnasium’s air conditioning.

It will also cover reconstruction of the parking lot to include a water conservation and recycling system, playground amenity upgrades; lighting, sound and bleacher upgrades, and integrated park beautification elements, to include green space improvements and pedestrian pathways, the report showed.

A representative from the California Department of Parks and Recreation met with City staff last month at Robinson Park to discuss the project scope and gather additional information on elements of the application. A decision on the grant application is expected by April 2020.

Public Works staff will also present the project concept plan to the Northwest Commission on December 10, after which, a project design package will be submitted to the Planning Department for review and permitting.

Construction could begin in early 2021, the report also mentioned.