One of the largest pools in America is in L.A. It's packed with beach vibes and fun

There’s thing similar taking a chill dip aft a blistery day, particularly successful L.A. summertime weather. As highest swimming play kicks off, the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center excavation successful Lake View Terrace reopened Memorial Day connected weekends aft being closed for the season. It volition beryllium unfastened regular for aquatics and play starting Saturday.

The fashionable San Fernando Valley aquatic halfway spans 40 acres that see a monolithic 1.5-acre excavation lined with soil similar a beach. There’s besides a nine-acre water utilized for sportfishing and nonmotorized vessel activities.

“As 1 of the largest pools successful the U.S., capableness [being] 3,500, we get truthful galore radical from each implicit the city, each implicit the county, radical coming from retired of authorities to this place,” Edwin Realegeno, aquatic installation manager of the center, said.

The Hansen Dam Aquatic Center excavation was constructed successful 1999 successful a $15-million task to regenerate a erstwhile excavation successful the country that was filled with silt.

Along the pool’s sandy shores, individuals tin usage the volleyball courts and teqball table. There are besides antithetic levels of shallow h2o for young swimmers and toddlers.

Paty Santillana, a Van Nuys resident, has visited the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center for the past 15 years. “It’s cleanable for small kids. I person a 5-year-old and besides a 21-year-old, who we utilized to travel present with,” Santillana said. She adds that her grandchildren are ecstatic each clip she mentions a sojourn to the pool.

Idalia Fraga, a 12-year-old swimmer who has been to the excavation doubly since its reopening connected Memorial Day weekend, said she enjoys the excavation for its affordability.

“Prices are precise inexpensive ... it truly helps those families who struggle,” Fraga said.

After immoderate renovations to its ample h2o descent that volition beryllium reopening Saturday, the excavation is unfastened to swimmers for an admittance interest of $4 for adults and children 17 and nether for $1. The halfway takes currency only.

The recreational water is unfastened year-round and is restocked with food from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Christopher Lopez relaxes by regularly sportfishing astatine the Hansen Dam Recreation Lake connected the weekends.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Along the lake, radical bask walking the surrounding grassy pathway and fishing. Christopher Lopez, a Pacoima resident, who besides goes by the nickname Squid, goes to the water for the latter.

Lopez started sportfishing astir 2 months agone with his longtime person from simple school. “[It’s about] getting retired of the location and having thing to bash connected the weekends and being capable to bask the day,” helium said. “Spending our clip retired present I deliberation is conscionable a large addition.”

For Lopez, catching bass oregon trout and enjoying the occasional breeze is simply a cleanable time to sorb the quality of nature.

Lifeguards Israel Orozco, left, and Ian Zabel, right, ticker the excavation arsenic visitors chill disconnected astatine the Hansen Dam Aquatic Center.

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

The recreational halfway is hosting fundraising 1K and 5K runs connected Sunday followed by a enactment with escaped entree to the pool. Realegeno said the fundraiser is to assistance money nationalist excavation centers crossed L.A. County and to beforehand swimming information lessons.

Visit the recreation center’s website oregon Instagram leafage for much accusation arsenic good arsenic updates connected excavation oregon descent closures. Hours vary.