The recently named "Los Gatos High School Community Aquatic Center" is almost ready to make some waves. But fundraising efforts to cover the cost of the $2.8 million Olympic-sized aquatic center are not quite finished, falling $51,000 short of the target goal.

The project conception started about six years ago with the idea to renovate the extremely outdated, shallow aquatic facility built in about 1955, which was so old it no longer met standard swimming regulations.

"From a principal's perspective, we have some of the finest athletic facilities here," said Los Gatos High School Principal Trudy McCulloch. "But the pool has been a sore thumb for years. It's way past time."

McCulloch said a steering committee of parents, administrators and community volunteers was formed. Members of that committee claim it has been a long journey of tireless energy, but the efforts of these fundraising gurus have not gone unnoticed. Their task is almost complete.

"We're in the final lap—the last 25 meters," said Ervie Smith, executive director of The Valley Foundation, a nonprofit organization that has provided $1,500,000 to the aquatic center.

More than 300 individuals, groups and businesses have donated toward the effort, according to Ed LaVeque, also with the foundation. Smith, a 1954 Los Gatos High School graduate, and LaVeque, whose children are graduates of the high school, are members of the aquatic center's steering committee.

As its title infers, the aquatic center will be intended for community use, Smith said. The Los Gatos­Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation donated $100,000 toward the center and will have use of the pool for a yet-to-be-determined amount of hours every year, especially during summers. The Los Gatos Town Council also generously committed $300,000 to the aquatic center. From selling hand warmers to serving a pancake breakfast hosted by the Los Gatos Lions Club, many people in the community are pitching in.

And the aquatic center itself, once completed, will serve as a source of revenue for the community and high school. Recreation Supervisor Laurie Boswell said the rec department plans to offer affordable programs for all ages that fit community needs.

"Once we get this pool, I have a feeling everyone will want to use it," said Boswell, adding that the old pool was inefficient and didn't address the needs of the high school and community. "It was a patchwork of problems."

McCulloch said the new pool will also be utilized by the school's physical education department, since freshmen and sophomores are required to take PE.

"We see it being used many, many hours every single day," said McCulloch.

By the community's partnering with the Los Gatos­Saratoga Department of Community Education and Recreation and The Valley Foundation, the focus and design of the pool has changed and improved, LaVeque said.

The elevated pool, which has a 1,174-square-foot surface area and 512-foot perimeter, according to Assistant Principal Doug Ramezane, has been designed by professionals and architects to be state of the art. The deck area, filtering, gutters and chlorinating systems will all be the latest in aquatics technology. The surface of the water will be level with the drainage system, without a drop-off, making the edge seem to disappear. This new feature is known as "an infinity pool," said Los Gatos parent Michael McMurray, chairman of the steering committee.

The L-shaped pool—22 yards wide and eight lanes across—includes a 3-foot-6-inch shallow area for children, plus a handicap-access lift. It will be 51 meters long with an extra 1-meter moveable wall that can change the configuration of the swimming area.

McCulloch said the swimming and water polo teams now practice at Saratoga High School, West Valley College or anywhere they can squeeze in time to practice. She added that the new 13-foot diving area could spark renewed interest in the program. The deep end of the pool will be equipped with one 3-meter diving board and two 1-meter boards. Lights will make possible night practices, meets and activities both on deck and in the water.

McMurray added that the high school has lost serious divers, swimmers and water polo players to private schools simply because it hasn't had an adequate pool.

"To see these kids finally get some victory is absolutely crucial," said Christine Nichols, a Monte Sereno parent on the steering committee.

For her son, senior Austin Nichols, it's a bittersweet situation since he's graduating this spring. But Nichols, a swimmer and water polo player, said he's already looking forward to next year's annual alumni game on Thanksgiving, when he'll get to use the new facility.

"With all these other new facilities on campus, it's restoring some pride that we have a nice pool," said Nichols, who remembers swimming his freshman and sophomore years in the old pool. "There were all kinds of gross, disgusting things in there."

Girls water polo coach Ted Mathewson said using other facilities doesn't give his team much opportunity to practice real game scenarios, since they are usually limited to half a pool.

"Los Gatos has suffered in this particular sport because they don't have a place to play," said Mathewson, adding that the teams will finally be able to have home games, as well as a summer club water polo program to interest and recruit middle school athletes.

The aquatic center, adjacent new girls locker room and a two-story community room that will be shared with the recreation department are all expected to be completed in May. The girls locker room and community room are being paid for through Measure B bond money.

LaVeque encouraged community members, businesses, parents and anyone interested to purchase terra-cotta bricks for $1,000 each, or wall plaques for $5,000. Laid out in artistic fashion, the personalized, laser-engraved bricks will line the entrance and deck areas around the pool.

For more information about the aquatic center, to make a donation or to purchase a brick, call The Valley Foundation at 408.358.4545.