San Bruno turns the page on tragedy

Several key themes emerged in response to the questions: “What do you think would make San Bruno even better? What needs do you see in San Bruno? Why they are important?” and “What kinds of projects or services do you think would address those needs?”

As the foundation listened, more than 1,000 community members expressed their priorities loudly and clearly. While the outreach revealed a variety of community needs, residents identified new community facilities as the top priority.  

With grant funding from the community foundation, the city then conducted a community facilities visioning process to define goals and priorities for new or renovated community facilities in San Bruno. As the city gathered community input during the planning process, community members expressed a strong desire to upgrade facilities at what was then the Veterans Memorial Recreation Center in San Bruno City Park, expand its hours, offer year-round swimming opportunities, and make its many uses available to all ages.

In response to this community feedback, the community foundation contributed $51.5 million in restitution settlement funds to support the design and construction of a new combined recreation center and swimming pool facility. Contributions from the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission and the Recreation and Aquatic Center Advisory Committee, as well as a solar panel partnership with Peninsula Clean Energy, were all instrumental in steering this project toward successful completion.

Tomorrow, the city of San Bruno will host a grand opening, ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for its new, state-of-the-art Recreation and Aquatic Center. This project of immense community importance has been in the works for nearly a decade and promises to usher in a new era of recreation and communal gathering for residents.

However, as we celebrate the unveiling of this community asset, it is important that we recognize — and never forget — the long and difficult journey that brought us to this day.

Tomorrow’s grand opening celebration will help us turn the page on that tragic day in September 2010. The open and accessible Recreation and Aquatic Center will serve San Bruno’s residents and future generations in exceptional ways.

What began with tragedy brings us remembrance-filled hope for a brighter, safer and inclusive place for our community, casting a promising ray of hope outward to the “City with a Heart.”

This new facility will provide a treasured set of experiences with a stunning aquatic center that includes indoor and outdoor pools and offers opportunities for expert and beginner swimmers alike. A new fitness center offers reasonable rates for our community to enjoy the benefits of their health routines. From free weights to low impact exercise classes, the center will provide programming for residents of all ages. The gymnasium serves as a welcoming setting for basketball, volleyball, pickle ball and other sports. A walking track, community rooms and beautiful event space with a full catering kitchen wrap up a true community gem.

We have always said that something good has to come out of the tragedy we all experienced. We hope the community will take full advantage of all that this new, 21st century recreation center has to offer for generations to come.

Malissa Netane-Jones is the president of the San Bruno Community Foundation Board of Directors and Jim Ruane is the former mayor of San Bruno.