Pool Serving Handicapped Soon to Get Solid Shelter

Lisa Bronet shivered in the wind Thursday as she stood at the edge of a dirty, unused swimming pool behind a rehabilitation center in Woodland Hills.

Bronet, 24, has Down’s syndrome. She learned to swim in the pool, at the Rancho del Valle rehabilitation center, seven years ago. She later won two silver medals in the state’s Special Olympics.

But Bronet’s swimming was curtailed last year when someone destroyed the pool’s makeshift plastic-and-wood roof and enclosure. The vandalism left the pool unsheltered and useless for most of the 600 Valley-area handicapped people who are served by the Crippled Children’s Society center.

That will soon change, according to supporters of the center at 6530 Winnetka Ave.

$384,000 Donated

On Thursday they broke ground for a $384,000 covering and exercise building around the 30-year-old pool.

The money was donated by the National Charity League of the San Fernando Valley. Its 160 members raise money through the Ticktocker Thrift Shop in Reseda and from an annual debutante ball.

“We had help with high interest rates,” league President Beverly Hartunian of Encino said. “We’ve been collecting money for this since 1977.”

Construction will start next week, and the project will be finished in late summer--well ahead of next fall’s cool weather, officials said.

Dolores Koeck, a Rancho del Valle administrator, said that once the 20-by-60-foot pool is re-covered it will be the only year-round therapeutic facility of its type in the San Fernando Valley.

Before the vandals struck, the pool was used extensively for orthopedic and stroke-victim therapy. It was also frequently used during the evening by senior citizens and other outside groups, Koeck said.

Psychological Benefit

Judy Maller, president of the Crippled Children’s Society of Los Angeles, said swimming is a physical and psychological benefit to the handicapped.

“But the last time I swam out here, I was afraid the roof would fall on my head,” she said. “I was so glad when it was finally torn down. I’m just glad this project has come so soon.”

Elaine Bronet, Lisa’s mother, watched actor Dennis Weaver and former television personality William (Engineer Bill) Stulla help with the ground breaking.

“Lisa sits all day for her job in the workshop here, stuffing envelopes and packaging golf tees,” the Woodland Hills woman said. “Swimming is good exercise for her. This is the only place she has to swim.”