Edison High School dives into the deep end for construction of new pool

Edison High School is finally getting a new pool.

The Huntington Beach Union High School District broke ground Thursday for the first of three projects to replace pools across Edison, Marina and Fountain Valley high schools.

The pools at all three high schools are more than 50 years old and carry complications for students playing water polo because of their depth. Edison students previously needed to go to Newport Harbor High School to compete or train in a pool that met regulations.

Parents have been pushing for new pools at the high schools for years because of it and because of the pools’ lack of accessibility for special needs students, but officials said in 2019 that construction was delayed because they’re expensive and residents didn’t support funding the projects through a school bond.

District officials did not immediately respond to inquiries for the total estimated cost of the project Friday afternoon.

“It has been 50 years, and having a pool that meets our school’s current need is a dream come true,” Principal Jennifer Graves said in a statement. “Our students, staff, and community are over the moon with excitement to be able to compete in a pool for both swimming and water polo on our own campus.”

The now ongoing project will replace the high school’s two existing pools with one 40-meter-by-25-yards swimming pool to accommodate aquatic sports with 12 racing lanes.

It will also have a ramp, accessible lift and wading area for students with special needs. The existing pool deck and pool equipment will be replaced and minor work will be done for restrooms.

There will also be a new scoreboard and sports equipment. Officials added that new deck lighting will be installed.

Construction of the pool will be done by Balfour Beatty. The design of the pool was done by PBK.

The Edison pool is expected to be completed in the winter of 2022.

“We are very excited and happy that the students and the entire Edison community can now look forward to a new swimming pool in their future,” Huntington Beach Union High School board president Michael Simons said in a statement.

“We are especially pleased that our special abilities cluster students will have a pool that will ease accessibility and increase utilization.”

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