Watts

Watts Pool Reopens With Nearly $4M in Renovations

Neighbors are celebrating the reopening of a pool in a Watts neighborhood they say doesn't give children a lot of option for exercise or play.

The pool opened Saturday with nearly $4 million in renovations for the first time in eight years. 

Watts residents avoided the 109th Street pool because they feared for their safety, City Councilman Joe Buscaino said.

The crime rate and plumbing stopped residents from using the pool.

For Yareli Lorenzo, a Watts resident who doesn't have air-conditioning, the pool is a sight for sore eyes. 

"Honestly, I feel happy," she said.

The pool created 18 new jobs, but some residents like Bobby Walker say they want more.

"This is just the start right here, this neighborhood needs a lot more, like activities for the kids," she said. 

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