Lawyers Pool Funds for Oxnard Swimmers

Led by Oxnard City Atty. Gary Gillig, lawyers have pledged more than $10,000 toward reopening a long-neglected swimming pool in the city’s La Colonia barrio.

The pool, closed two summers ago because of budget cuts, has been cleaned and filled with water and is expected to reopen next week.

Fourteen attorneys and law firms in Ventura and Los Angeles counties agreed to contribute to the cause after Gillig learned last month that the pool was empty and collecting leaves.

“I feel naive and stupid that I did not realize that was going on,” Gillig said Thursday. “It just struck me as wrong. I don’t want to make a big deal about it. I just want to get it open.”

The City Council agreed two years ago to shut down swimming programs at Oxnard and Hueneme high schools and at the public pool in Colonia Park.

But while private groups stepped in to revive the high school programs, no such effort evolved in La Colonia. Instead, iron bars were erected around the pool’s perimeter and decay set in.

“Facilities like this should not be allowed to sit empty. I think that is just a tragedy,” Gillig said. “I’m really looking forward to seeing the pool filled with happy, screaming children.”

Drawn by rumors that it would reopen, parents arrived at the pool Thursday morning with swimsuit-clad children in tow.

Ismael Marisclan, 32, brought his 4-year-old daughter, Paulette, only to find the doors still chained and locked.

“I grew up in this area, I know what it’s like not to have these things,” he said. “I am happy that it is going to be open again, but I want to know why it has been closed for so long. I don’t understand why they would build it if they are not going to use it.”

That is a question asked often over the years by members of La Colonia Neighborhood Council.

Council President Carlos Aguilera said city officials should have earmarked money long ago to reopen the swimming pool. He said he believes the facility is eligible for federal community block grant money, and hopes that those funds will be used in coming years to keep the swimming program afloat.

“I appreciate anything that is done to help the kids in this neighborhood,” Aguilera said. “I want to thank those city employees who have finally opened up their eyes to what is happening in our poor community.”

The $10,000 raised by Gillig will pay to rehabilitate the pool, chemically treat the water and staff the facility with lifeguards for the 10-week recreation program.

Recreation Supt. Karen Burnham said she plans to find out whether federal funds can be used to keep the swim program going next summer.

“Hopefully, we’ll have a continuation of the program from year to year,” Burnham said. “I wouldn’t want to open it up this summer and have to turn around and close it again next summer.”

To prevent that, Gillig said he hopes to establish a year-around fund-raising campaign.

“We got the pool open; now it’s time for the community to help us too,” the city attorney said. “My goal is to form a Colonia Park swimming pool committee so that we never have to face this type of persuasive fund raising again.”

Gillig, who earned $112,000 last year as city attorney, made a $1,000 contribution, as did two Los Angeles law firms and two local attorneys. Other lawyers and law firms made smaller donations.

“The effort was to do something that needed to be done for a group of people who didn’t have anybody working for them,” said Ventura attorney Tom Beach, a lifelong Santa Paula resident.

Added contributor Korman Dorsey Ellis, an Oxnard resident and Ventura attorney: “If we don’t give the kids opportunities, we sure as hell can’t be surprised when they get in trouble.”