After being forced to close the turnstiles five years ago on a facility that happily served generations of Guamanians, ground was broken today to finally rebuild the Hagatna Pool. "Public swimming pools are an ideal investment that yield great returns," said Acting Governor Joshua Tenorio.

"They contribute to the health and vitality of the island. They are a gathering place for the very young, the very old and every age in between. They are a place where instructors teach students, learn, and lifeguards stand watch and maintain order so everyone can safely have fun."

$8.8 million is being pumped – along with over 600,000 gallons of water –into the pool, an endeavor that isn't just a new coat of paint and fresh chlorine – the facility will be completely modernized to host exercise, recreation, swim and safety classes, the Special Olympics, and fierce competition. just the way it used to be.

Department of Parks & Recreation deputy director Warren Pelletier told KUAM News about the many use cases to pool will cater to, saying, "We get back the the moms that come in and do their water aerobics, and stuff like that. And then the lunch crew that comes in here and does their laps during lunch, and then the schools in the area with Academy, they can come there and participate in doing their usual swimming classes and then tennis classes, as well."

The lanes and depth will be the same at the shallow and deep ends, but with new enhancements to delight all patrons. "It's going to be an Olympic-sized pool. It's going to have touchpads. Everything's going to be digitized," Pelletier continued to explain.

"There's going to be a a view platform. It's a two-story thing where families can go in there and view the kids from the starting block on and cheer their kids on. It's all digitized. There's going to be three different bleachers."

Parks & Rec knows the value to the community, and projects cutting the ribbon to open the pool at next year's Independence Day – perfect for summertime.