FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Fresno Unified School District students who swim and compete in water polo are getting new facilities.
Within the next week a dirt lot on Hoover High School's campus will be under construction to become the school's newest pool. The 39-meter pool will feature a 14-foot deep diving section, large water polo area and a shallow section devoted to Special Olympics swimmers.
Tim Carey, Hoover High's Athletic Director, says, "We have an outstanding Special Olympics population on this campus, and we want all of our students to get in that pool on our own and feel safe and be able to swim in it."
The new pool replaces two small, 50-year old ones that are fenced off in the middle of Hoover High's campus. Once the new one is built, the area will be torn up and covered with dirt and grass.
Athletic Director Tim Carey says the new swim facility will be a more adequate pool to support the school's programs. Right now water polo players at Hoover High have some limitations. The shallow end of the pool is only 3.5 feet deep. Which means goalies on that end, end up standing up when they're supposed to wade in the water.
Carey says, "It's just one of the reasons and the biggest reason, too, is I don't think they make the parts for this pool anymore."
Hoover isn't the only Fresno Unified school getting a new aquatics facility. Construction is already underway at Edison High School to build a brand-new pool. Bullard High School opened its new pool back in 2011.
Carey says, "As a district, they're trying to make all the campuses, in general, look better. Not just on the athletic end of it but new buildings."
The new aquatics facilities are being funded by Measure Q, a $280-million bond measure passed by Fresno Unified voters in 2010. Both Hoover and Edison High Schools' pools are expected to be completed by the beginning of the next school year.