Carpinteria Pool and Library Land $4.4 Million in State Funding
A $3.3 million state allocation fully funds the Carpinteria Community Pool's core renovation, while $1.1 million goes to accessibility upgrades at the library.
The Carpinteria Community Pool's core renovation is now fully funded following a $3.3 million state allocation championed by state Sen. Monique Limón and signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the city announced in a Sept. 28 press release.
The pool money is part of $4.4 million in one-time state capital improvement funds for Carpinteria. The package also includes $1.1 million for accessibility and facility improvements at the Carpinteria Community Library.
The news arrived less than five weeks after the city launched its Keep Carp Swimming campaign on Aug. 25 with a $3.3 million fundraising goal. At launch, about $374,000 had been secured; local contributions have since grown to $496,000, administered through the Santa Barbara Foundation.
Rather than closing the drive, the city said it would open a new $500,000 fundraising phase for improvements beyond the core infrastructure work: energy-efficient LED lighting, heavy-duty thermal pool covers, a commercial-grade pool vacuum, durable interior flooring, fresh paint, new entry signage and additional CPR and safety equipment.
The core work will replace the pool deck and gutter, which the city's facility-needs assessment ranked as the highest priorities, replaster the pool and replace aging mechanical equipment including the chlorine feed system, pool heater and water filters. Locker room work will address accessibility requirements.
"A lot of the pool's major infrastructure and mechanical systems are simply at the point where they need to be replaced," Parks, Recreation and Community Services Director Jeanette Gant said. "The goal of the project has always been to address those critical needs so we can preserve the existing pool and keep it operating safely and reliably for the community long term."
"The Carpinteria Community Pool and Carpinteria Community Library serve as community hubs for education, recreation, social connection and lifelong health," Limón said in the city's press release. "Ensuring our local infrastructure remains safe and functional is a top priority." She added: "I was proud to secure a $4.4 million state investment to support the city of Carpinteria's efforts in preserving these vital resources for residents and future generations."
Mayor Natalia Alarcon called the milestone "the definition of a true team effort," adding in the press release: "From the local residents and community leaders whose contributions built critical momentum, to Senator Monique Limón and Governor Gavin Newsom's support for Carpinteria on the state level, this achievement belongs to all of us."
The pool, which has served swimmers at 5305 Carpinteria Ave. since 1989, is expected to close for about six months during the winter of 2027-28 for construction, though Gant cautioned the timeline is tentative. Any surplus raised in the new fundraising phase would establish a dedicated capital replacement fund with the Santa Barbara Foundation for long-term pool maintenance.
The $3.3 million pool allocation was among at least $83.7 million in earmarks benefiting Limón's district in this year's state budget, according to a CalMatters analysis.
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