More than 40 friends and family of all ages attended the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s Pool Bash to commence the opening day of community pool activities over the summer on June 13 at the Rio Linda High School Aquatic Center. Photo by Seth Henderson

RIO LINDA, CA (MPG) - The Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District’s fourth annual Pool Bash on June 13 signaled the district’s opening day of the community pool at the Rio Linda High School Aquatic Center. 

Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District recreation supervisor Yanni Lagge said that everyone is welcome to attend public swimming sessions facilitated by the district at Rio Linda and Grant Union High School pools. Since youth visit rivers and lakes, Lagge said, knowing how to swim is as much about safety as it is skill. 

 
Splash Soda co-founders Tarryn Bertoglio (left) and Dina Nelson pose at their booth during the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Park District’s Pool Bash to commence the opening day of community pool activities on June 13. Photo by Seth Henderson

Public swim hours are 1 to 4 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Rio Linda High School Pool through Aug. 10.

“We love to be able to provide the services for the community,” Lagge said. “Swimming and having the ability to have a pool for the summer is really important.”

Rio Linda High School has two pools with one featuring a mushroom spray fountain and a three-lane water slide. Swimmers had to pass a swim test to use the slides and there were multiple lifeguards on duty at the June 13 event. Admission cost $4, down from $6 last year with the assistance of the Lion’s Club providing free hot dogs, chips and drinks, according to Rio Linda Lion’s Club President Tonya Haddix.

She said that Twin River students who show their valid student identification card will gain free admission to both pools. 

 
The Rio Linda Lions Club partners with Splash Soda, a local custom soda company, and the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District for their fourth annual Pool Bash to kick off the district’s pool activities over the summer on June 13 at the Rio Linda High School Aquatic Center. Photo by Seth Henderson

Lagge said that the Recreation and Parks District obtained a mixed land use (MLU) zoning permit about 14 years ago for the Rio Linda High aquatic center, meaning that the pool was built with the park district in mind. Lagge is the swim and water polo coach at Rio Linda High School, in addition to being a lifeguard instructor. 

Woodland Christian Schools 10th-grader Chayse Anderson, the lifeguard manager at the Pool Bash event, is in her second year of being a lifeguard after being inspired by her brother, who was also a lifeguard. 

“Everyone’s been nice,” Anderson said. “Not too many breaking the rules or anything, so it’s been good. Lots of kids running around the water slide.”

Anderson said the water slides are fun for parents too and she was glad to see all ages at the pool being safe. 

Zowie Esparza, the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District recreation coordinator with the district for six years, said it was exciting to have vendors and a great turnout for opening day. More than 40 attendees participated in the Pool Bash, Esparza said, and “the newly-trained lifeguards did an excellent job.” 

A company co-founded by Dina Nelson and Tarryn Bertoglio, a mother-daughter duo, called Splash Soda, helped sponsor the Pool Bash and the Lion’s Club provided its signature soda mixtures. Some flavors included Blue Razz Lemonade Strawberry Boba and Dirty Alanai. 

Nelson said that “it means a lot to be able to give back to the community.”

“The Rio Linda Elverta Parks and Recreation District, they don’t have a lot of donors and sponsors,” Nelson said. “And I raised my kids here. My grandkids are here.”

Nelson said they support local business and it’s “really an honor for me. Like I said, I graduated from this school in 1981.” She said she thinks what they have in the Rio Linda community is quite special and her family has historically been involved, saying she has many generations of family who have participated in multiple facets of the community. 

Other Rio Linda High School Aquatic Center events include water aerobics, also hosted by the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District from July 16 to Aug. 6. Hours are from 5 to 6 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. There will be a $5 drop-in fee to attend. 

The district also facilitates its own swim team, competing against other recreation and park districts throughout Northern California, Lagge said. She said the swim team has been around for about 12 years and features 122 swimmers.

The water aerobics program is more social based but features coordinated workouts with weights and pool noodles, according to Lagge. 

The Rio Linda High School Aquatic Center is located at 6309 Dry Creek Road, Rio Linda, with the aquatic center’s driveway located off of the frontage road on Elkhorn Boulevard.

Grant Union High School is located at 1400 Grand Ave, Sacramento.

More information about public pool hours and events from the Rio Linda Elverta Recreation and Parks District can be found online at rleparks.com or call 916-991-5929.