At Last, Lots of Laps at Pool Center

The long-awaited $6.5-million state-of-the-art Amateur Athletic Foundation Rose Bowl Aquatics Center splashed into existence Sunday afternoon.

On a perfect day for a swim, Jane Chandler and Susan Johnson cut a red ribbon with four-foot scissors at the entrance of the terra-cotta- and turquoise-colored facility in the Arroyo Seco. Then a crowd of 700 got the first peek at the two 10-meter-by-25-yard pools and the 10-meter diving tower that will be used to train future Olympians and promote swimming for all ages.

The party began in sunshine and ended under the shine of a sliver of a moon. Also shining were a whole lot of faces that beamed a whole lot of pride, including all the early supporters--Nick Conway, Mark Pisano, former Pasadena Mayor John Crowley, Norman Chandler and swimming’s great Olympic gold and silver medalist John Naber, the center’s chairman of the board.

Peter Ueberroth, organizer of the 1984 Summer Olympics, appeared. So did the greats of swimming and diving--Pat McCormick, Anita deFrantz, Kristen Babb--and synchronized swimmers Michelle Nitenko and Nathalie Schneyder.

“This is a free-form evening,” said Georgianna Erskine, gala chairwoman. And, indeed, it was. Jess Marlow to emcee. An invocation from the Rev. George F. Regas. John Naber to throw in the first ball for a water polo demonstration. Synchronized swimming. Diving demonstrations. A “100 Years of Bathing,” a Catalina Collection swimsuit show. A Las Vegas-style tap dance medley. A fireworks spectacular. (The best perch for that was the third tier of the diving platform, with the Rose Bowl in neon in the distance, and the Arroyo hillside in silhouette against the twilight. A long line of party-goers did just that.)

It was tough to find a moment to enjoy the barbecued swordfish sticks, the pastas, and the chocolate ice cream sundaes, or to dance between the pools to Art Deco and His Society Orchestra.

The new aquatics center is one of just three facilities in the United States (and the only one west of the Mississippi) eligible to host Olympic games. It will provide training opportunities for future Olympic champions. Scholarships in swimming, diving, water polo and kayaking will be available for the disadvantaged. There’s a children’s pool and space for the elderly and disabled.

Ueberroth was particularly complimentary to Pasadena and its meshing of government and private monies for the edifice: “Pasadena gives a little message. Look what you’ve done--you’ve created a special place . . . Someone else will say, we can do this, too.”

The party is expected to net almost $100,000. Fund-raising will be carried on by the new Aquatic Associates, headed by Diane Hardie.