The Plunge

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The Plunge (photo taken December 9, 2006)

The Richmond Municipal Natatorium, popularly known as The Plunge, is a historic swim center in the Point Richmond neighborhood of Richmond, California. It has been closed since August 2001 due to being seismically unsound.

The Plunge was created by a bond issue in 1926.^[1]. Over the years, the masonry building deteriorated, and it was further damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. City voters rejected a bond measure to reinforce it in 1997. However, even though it was unsafe, people were allowed to swim in it until August 2001, although they had to pass "Swim at your own risk" signs.^[2]

When the Plunge was slated for demolition, residents protested and started a grassroots campaign to raise enough money to complete seismic upgrades. The renovation planning process was complicated by the fact that the Plunge is located in the Point Richmond Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places. This meant that officials had to ensure the renovation would not damage the site's historic value. Construction is due to begin in April 2008.^[3]

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[edit] Notes

[edit] External links

• The Richmond Plunge home page