Water and Power

It’s not every day Richard J. Riordan makes a public appearance in green swim trunks, but the Los Angeles mayor was in a swimming mood at the North Hollywood Park pool Tuesday.

Riordan swam, spoke with about 120 kids and served scoops of free vanilla ice cream at the pool, where officials publicized a program that allows children to use city pools for free this summer. Officials said attendance at the city’s 53 pools has jumped more than 60%.

His every move chronicled by a parade of TV cameras and photographers, Riordan dove into the pool several times, splashing children floating on inner tubes.

“I’ve never had as much fun since I’ve been mayor. I even got some advice from kids on how to run the city,” said Riordan, 69, an avid cyclist.

The entry fee was waived for the first time this summer for those 17 and under, seniors 65 and over and the disabled through Sept 6. Adults must pay $1.25.

“It’s great, otherwise I wouldn’t be able to come to the pool almost every day,” added Tristan Mitchell, 11, of Studio City.

Before Proposition 13 passed in 1978, admission was free in the morning, and kids packed the pools, said John Vowels, the city recreation and park’s chief lifeguard. When the city began charging kids a fee, attendance dropped.

About 400,000 people have used the city pools this summer, Vowels said. “Now they’re coming back.”