Jeanette Gant, the director of Carpinteria's Carpinteria Parks, Recreation, and Community Service Department, said Monday that the city needs $3.3 million to fund critical improvements and repairs for the Community Pool.
Jeanette Gant, the director of Carpinteria's Carpinteria Parks, Recreation, and Community Service Department, said Monday that the city needs $3.3 million to fund critical improvements and repairs for the Community Pool. Credit: Evelyn Spence / Noozhawk photo

Roughly $3.3 million is needed to help the city of Carpinteria keep its Community Pool up and running, staff told the City Council on Monday.

The pool first opened in June 1989. Nearly four decades later, parts of it are in critical need of repair or replacement, including the pool deck, pool gutters, mechanical equipment, chemical feed systems and pool heater.

The deck, for example, has major cracking and corrosion, a consultant told the city last year.

The facility also needs accessibility improvements, including accessible restrooms and an Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant shower.

The city kicked off its fundraising campaign this week at KeepCarpSwimming.org, asking community members to donate to help, said Jeanette Gant, the city’s Parks, Recreation and Community Service Department Director.

The city first looked into repairing the pool in spring 2025. The schematic designs from 19six architects were completed earlier this summer.

“A lot of the work is the ‘not so exciting but very necessary’ stuff that keeps a pool functioning,” Gant said. “…The pool has served this community for a long time, and the goal of this project is to make this investment now so it can continue serving the community for many more years.”

The city of Carpinteria's Community Pool is in need of critical repairs and improvements, city staff reaffirmed Monday. The city launched its pool fundraising campaign this week, seeking to bring in .3 million.
The city of Carpinteria’s Community Pool is in need of critical repairs and improvements, city staff reaffirmed Monday. The city launched its pool fundraising campaign this week, seeking to bring in $3.3 million. Credit: Evelyn Spence / Noozhawk photo

The city has already raised $374,000 from groups including The Ann Jackson Family Foundation, the Bliss Family, Marilyn Jenkins, the LaCentra-Sumerlin Foundation and The Alice Tweed Tuohy Foundation.

The city has also partnered with the Santa Barbara Foundation to serve as the project’s fiscal sponsor through the CARP fund.

If the $3.3 million is raised by next year, the pool will be closed for approximately six months over winter 2027-2028 for construction.

But construction timing is entirely contingent on funding, Gant emphasized.

If the city can’t meet its funding goal or can’t meet it on the current tentative timeline, the city may scale down the project, split it into phases, or push further it out.

Vice Mayor Mónica Solórzano asked if there is a threshold to donate.

Gant said there is no threshold and the city would be “incredibly grateful” for any amount.

The city has also discussed hosting events at the pool to boost fundraiser visbility, Gant said, with dates to be determined.

— Noozhawk South County editor Evelyn Spence can be reached at espence@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.