Northgate High Breaks Ground On New Aquatics Center

More than 100 students, teachers, parents and education officials turned out during a study session break Friday for the official groundbreaking of the Northgate High School Aquatics Center.

Students held signs thanking the Northgate community while school officials and community leaders talked about what the center will bring to the high school in eastern Walnut Creek.

"It's a great day for Northgate High School," said Ralph Austin, the president of the Northgate Community Pride Foundation, which spearheaded the project.

The $8.1 million aquatics center will have a 40-meter by 25-yard pool with 16 lanes. it'll also have a sports medicine facility and a classroom as well as outdoor lighting.

The center, located on the south side of the campus, is scheduled to be completed by the end of next summer.

More than $7 million of the center's cost is being paid for by Measure C funds. The remaining $1 million is being raised by the foundation.

At Friday's ceremony, Austin presented a symbolic $502,000 check to school officials to get the project rolling.

The center got final approval from the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board of education in mid-November.

At a community meeting in late October, nearby residents expressed their ongoing concerns about the lights, traffic and noise from events held at the pool.

Supporters, however, say the pool has long been needed at Northgate. The high school's swimmers and water polo players now practice at other schools' pools in the evening hours when those facilities are available.

In addition, supporters say the school's sports medicine students are now working out of two small, outdated rooms on campus and need a new facility, too.

At Friday's ceremony, education officials praised the center and those who helped get it off the ground.

"This facility is going to offer so much to our students in the Mt. Diablo district," said Barbara Oaks, the board of education president.

"It makes me think of extracurricular activities," added Superintendent Dr. Nellie Meyer. "Without them, students are not getting the entire high school experience."

Riley Barnes, a member of the school's sports medicine team, said the center will greatly improve that educational program.

"It's really great that we are getting this new facility," he said.

Joan Kronick, a junior on the swim team, thanked the community on behalf of the Northgate student body.

"I speak for all students when I say how grateful we are and how excited we are," she said.