History
a brief history of richmond friends of recreation
Richmond Friends of Recreation (RFOR), began when recreation in the city of Richmond needed many friends. In 1978, funds available to cities of California were severely curtailed by the passage of the Jarvis-Gann, “Proposition 13”. In Richmond, as recounted in a Richmond Independent news article on June 6, 1978, reported there could be “no swimming pools, no school crossing guards (then a city responsibility), no street sweeping, dramatice shortening of library hours, closure of community and senior centers, and 200 city employees receiving termination notices, with many lay-offs in the police and fire departments”.
Not long before 1978, a “Save the Plunge Committee”, all avid swimmers, had met and focused on reoccurring maintenance problems with the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, affectionately named “The Plunge”. The Plunge was built and dedicated in 1926, when the city had but 22,000 residents who had passed a bond to build the pool on gifted land at the intersection of Garrard and West Richmond Avenue. Mr. Nichol, who had made the gift, had failed in his attempt to drill for oil, but succeeded in discovering water, a lot of water, several hundred feet below. This Artesian well became a source, along with salt water piped from the San Francisco Bay off Keller’s Beach on the other side of the hill from the pool. The Plunge opening was met instant success and popularity.
On October 27, 1978, the Plunge closed! Seven major leaks occurred in the main circulation line and water supply piping. The city did not have the resources to make the repairs. The minutes for November 8, 1978 recount the status of repairs and outlook for resuming operation of the Plunge. The minutes also note that the group’s name would be “Friends of Recreation in Richmond”, as all recreational activities in Richmond were deteriorating due to lack of city funds.
Two of the committee was employees of Standard Oil Company of California. Walt Fauerso was a manager at the Richmond Refinery. Jay Vincent was an engineer in the home office in
San Francisco. They were able to persuade the company to assist in repairs of the Plunge. Many hours were volunteered by Standard Oil’s skilled workers to make necessary repairs. As reported in the January 8, 1979 issue of the Richmond Independent newspaper, repairs were nearly completed from help from the City of Richmond, private citizens and Standard Oil.
Other members of the committee in 1979, now incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation, with the current name, “Richmond Friends of Recreation” were Erica and Barry Goode, the latter who provided the legal work for incorporating the group, Herb Dean, Lucretia Edwards, Joy Fineberg, George Hains, Janice Lewton, Sallie Robertson, Hans Shaper, Cindy Kennedy, Warren Winkelstein, Jan Fuller and Ellie Strauss.
While the emphasis was focused on aquatic programs the Friends over the years also gave support to youth basketball, baseball, and boxing and soccer programs in Richmond.
The most significant and tenacious project under the umbrella of the Richmond Friends of Recreation was the long term goal of saving and restoring the Plunge, as not only were there initially political forces wanting to demolish the facility, but with the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, it again was closed, eventually re-opening with posted warning signs to entering patrons. Seismic concerns finally closed the Plunge in 2003.
The drive to rehabilitate and save the Plunge continued successfully with its’ grand re-opening in August, 2010. It is now the most modern indoor and likely largest, swimming pool in the world.
Not long before 1978, a “Save the Plunge Committee”, all avid swimmers, had met and focused on reoccurring maintenance problems with the Richmond Municipal Natatorium, affectionately named “The Plunge”. The Plunge was built and dedicated in 1926, when the city had but 22,000 residents who had passed a bond to build the pool on gifted land at the intersection of Garrard and West Richmond Avenue. Mr. Nichol, who had made the gift, had failed in his attempt to drill for oil, but succeeded in discovering water, a lot of water, several hundred feet below. This Artesian well became a source, along with salt water piped from the San Francisco Bay off Keller’s Beach on the other side of the hill from the pool. The Plunge opening was met instant success and popularity.
On October 27, 1978, the Plunge closed! Seven major leaks occurred in the main circulation line and water supply piping. The city did not have the resources to make the repairs. The minutes for November 8, 1978 recount the status of repairs and outlook for resuming operation of the Plunge. The minutes also note that the group’s name would be “Friends of Recreation in Richmond”, as all recreational activities in Richmond were deteriorating due to lack of city funds.
Two of the committee was employees of Standard Oil Company of California. Walt Fauerso was a manager at the Richmond Refinery. Jay Vincent was an engineer in the home office in
San Francisco. They were able to persuade the company to assist in repairs of the Plunge. Many hours were volunteered by Standard Oil’s skilled workers to make necessary repairs. As reported in the January 8, 1979 issue of the Richmond Independent newspaper, repairs were nearly completed from help from the City of Richmond, private citizens and Standard Oil.
Other members of the committee in 1979, now incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation, with the current name, “Richmond Friends of Recreation” were Erica and Barry Goode, the latter who provided the legal work for incorporating the group, Herb Dean, Lucretia Edwards, Joy Fineberg, George Hains, Janice Lewton, Sallie Robertson, Hans Shaper, Cindy Kennedy, Warren Winkelstein, Jan Fuller and Ellie Strauss.
While the emphasis was focused on aquatic programs the Friends over the years also gave support to youth basketball, baseball, and boxing and soccer programs in Richmond.
The most significant and tenacious project under the umbrella of the Richmond Friends of Recreation was the long term goal of saving and restoring the Plunge, as not only were there initially political forces wanting to demolish the facility, but with the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, it again was closed, eventually re-opening with posted warning signs to entering patrons. Seismic concerns finally closed the Plunge in 2003.
The drive to rehabilitate and save the Plunge continued successfully with its’ grand re-opening in August, 2010. It is now the most modern indoor and likely largest, swimming pool in the world.