The opening of the renovated 109th street pool, gave Watts residents something to look forward to for the summer. Marin Austin reports for the NBC4 News at 8 p.m. on July 2, 2016.
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.
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"This is just the start right here, this neighborhood needs a lot more, like activities for the kids," she said.
