Richmond Plunge - Richmond, California

Karen T.

I love the plunge! I was looking for a water aerobics class that had warm pool water. I found it here! I was referred by 2 people I know to go here. I continue to go for my classes. The fact that the water is warm is a healing therapy and beneficial for chronic and arthritis pain sufferers and for anyone who likes to be in warm pool water. They also have small children swim classes, water-walking, and lap swimming. Go to their website to get the information. The staff there at the front desk is so friendly and helpful and the people using the pool facilities is very nice and they speak to you.

Mamie L.

Such a beautiful place to swim or go deep water walking. I have a punch card so I don’t have to wait in line to pay every time I go there, and the senior rate comes out to $5 per session. Cheaper than the gas it took to get there. Makes exercising fun and peaceful.

Kristin R. I.

Historic old natatorium. Lots of charm and some updates needed. Take your belongings poolside, things have gone missing from the locker room. Love their lap swim times and special events.

Jacob L.

Great staff, incredible building, pool is comfortable and usually a little busy but not crowded. The only problem is very limited opening times.
Cost is $7 drop-in for Richmond residents, a little more for noresidents.

L M.

I live in another state. My last name is very common--though not everyone aware. (loggins and messina). I have often been in the Oakland, Orinda, Richmond Bay Area throughout my life. Pool availability--and accessibility---each day a priority to me.

I am fully aware that I am not alone. Pools and health being a priority for decades is on a large percentage of people's mind in every single community

I am concerned. I do not understand: how do resident and citizen people in Richmond, Oakland, El Cerrito, El Sobrante have health, welfare priorities met? How do residents and citizens in the local and immediate areas--swim to meet their needs when not enough pool water bodies are accessible to people who have the means to support their public pools--but, the public asset is not available?

Entities exist for the purpose of making best decisions. It takes many changes, incomplete and transforming mediocre decisions to get to the right route of making improved decisions.

In today's world of after Covid: Pools are active 7 days a week--whether open to public or not. The maintenance happens each evening and at night.

Pools are strong, strong income-generating entities--not only contribute immensely to the happiness and health of a large percentage of the community. Being able to be open 6 days a week---to the public persons who require them for their health and preventative health reasons--while generating income for the entity should be the priority. The $$$ and Demand and Need is there--and generating profit--is all intertwined, too. Insurance and security--falls into place---with strong reasonable 6 days open to the public operations

I was in Richmond, El Cerrito==decades ago. Since early 2000s------another public pool has been overdue needed--in immediate area. I didn't realize this issue was never addressed or is not being high priority addressed.

Maximizing the current assets of pools and maximizing on the need and demand should be a long-time priority. I firmly believe building--another pool--should be a high priority--that is happening while active focus on maximizing current pool operations.
Public assets: water bodies--- like pools--contribute to solving a widest variety of community challenges---not only prevent them.
Thank you for allowing me to voice a grave concern. I live out of state--but, I think fondly of areas in life I have gone to.

J Z.

It is the warmest indoor pool around comparing to YMCA, 24 hour fitness and Bay club. The bathroom and shower are clean and well maintained. No problem for parking. Although, it is further than other pool for me, it didn’t stop me for going.

Janet J.

75 years ago my mother taught me to swim at the Richmond Natatorium. I was very little. There used to be a cement barrier separating the kiddy pool from the adult pool, and the fountain you see out front (if it’s still there) was in the kiddy pool. I remember sitting under it with the water pouring over me… I visited a few years ago after it reopened following the renovations and it was lovely! No chlorine either! Wow… ❤️❤️❤️

Puja M.

Would be a great pool if they didn’t have the dumbest rules on this side of the Bay.

I spent an hour in the swim lanes on the 4.5 foot and under side practicing my paddle and stroke, with no issue. Suddenly, their Aquaman wannabe manager appears to ask me how comfortable I am in the deep end. I say I’m not, and currently practicing while I take adult lessons.

He then tells me it’s actual policy that I have to be able to tread in the deep end in order to use a swim lane. Otherwise, I need to be in the other side, which is a pee pool for shallow non swimming kids to play chicken in.

We told him that makes no sense, and I won’t be able to swim in that ghetto waterpark side. He admitted it made no sense, offered a refund.

Meanwhile, the old woman next to me clearly couldn’t be in the deep end either, and her husband was guiding her as she practiced on the shallow side. No comments came from Aquaman to her and I could see them hurriedly walk over to another lane to avoid talking to him.

If you’re going to have asinine rules, you better be ready to test every single person who walks in to use a lane, and have the brains to work a computer system to log that info. Considering how long the front desk took to confirm the depth of the pool today, I’ve got low hopes for that.

All in all, go to a better pool. This one is for the most ancient retirees and kids to waste time on.