Sunnsyide Pool Reopens, Bringing Students and Community Together
With sunny skies overhead and excitement in the air, students from Sunnyside and Desert View high schools gathered Monday, October 26, to celebrate the reopening of the Sunnyside Unified District Pool following a $500,000 renovation. The ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the completion of a collaborative project funded by Sunnyside Unified School District and the City of Tucson, with work completed by Raytan Construction and Pima Pool Deck.
The celebration coincided with the final swim meet of the season between the two high schools, bringing together student-athletes, coaches, school leaders and community partners to recognize the renewed facility and the opportunities it provides for students. After the ceremony, students eagerly jumped into the refreshing water, celebrating the return of a pool that has played an important role in their athletic journeys.
“This was a project that was a true partnership, and it definitely takes a village,” said Superintendent Jose Gastelum. “It looks tremendous. We now have a beautiful facility and a safe facility. Our students deserve this.”
The renovation represents a significant investment in student athletics and restores an important resource for both high school swim programs. Over the past several years, swimmers faced limited pool access and relied on land workouts and weightroom training to maintain their conditioning.
Desert View High School Principal Angelica Duddleston recognized the perseverance of student-athletes and expressed gratitude to everyone who helped make the renovation possible.
“The last couple years, they had to give up time in the pool,” Duddleston said. “In between the time they were not in the pool, they were doing land workouts and getting into the weightroom. They've been trying to stay in, but swimming happens in the pool. I cannot say thank you enough to everyone who was involved who really helped our students get what they deserved.”
Beyond restoring a place to practice and compete, the renovated pool strengthens the connection between the two schools and the broader Sunnyside community. For more than a decade, the Sunnyside and Desert View swim teams have shared a tradition of supporting one another while competing together.
“The Sunnyside and Desert View swim teams truly embody what it means to be one district and one community,” Duddleston said. “These teams over the last ten-plus years have truly been one team. They push each other, they support each other, they're friends.”
Sunnyside High School Principal Stephanie Ponce echoed that message, emphasizing the importance of having a shared space where students and community members can come together.
“That's what this pool is about. It's about bringing people together. It's not just about our Sunnyside and Desert View students; it's about our community,” Ponce said. “You all have waited years for this opportunity, and it's a reminder that you all deserve the best.”
For coaches, the completed renovation also means renewed opportunities to introduce students to swimming, develop their skills and watch them grow as athletes.
“We take swimmers who just begin to swim and all the way to some really excellent swimmers,” said Desert View swim coach Gary Blouir. “We look forward to having the pool and just watching our young people grow.”
Sunnyside swim coach Nick Duddleston reflected on the transformation, noting the difference between the pool's previous condition and its renewed appearance.
“If you saw the pool three years ago compared to the state that it is in now, it's amazing,” he said. “Thank you to everyone that helped make this possible.”
For the seniors competing in their final meet, the celebration carried an especially personal meaning. The pool represents years of friendships, hard work, shared challenges and memories that extend far beyond competition.
Desert View senior swim captain Carlos Castelan expressed his appreciation for the district and the City of Tucson for helping restore the facility.
“I want to show my appreciation to the school district and the City of Tucson for helping us get our pool back,” Castelan said. “I'm so glad, and words cannot describe how I'm feeling. I've made so many memories and made so many friends throughout my four years of high school.”
Fellow Desert View senior swimmer Damaris Sontay reflected on how joining the swim team helped her grow personally and find a sense of belonging.
“I will forever be grateful for the day I woke up and decided to try out for the swim team because that marked the day that I started to leave my comfort zone and that also marks the day I started to grow as a person,” Sontay said.
Looking at the pool, Sontay recalled the friendships and shared experiences that defined her time on the team.
“I look at the pool today and I just remember my first time making a family with the swim team. I remember all the times we were in the pool grinding, all the giggles, all the laughs, and all the times we said we're tired but we always pushed each other,” she said. “I'm grateful to be here where it all started and back at my home pool.”
The ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated more than the completion of a construction project. It marked the return of a shared space where students can build confidence, develop their athletic abilities, strengthen friendships and create lasting memories.
Through the partnership between Sunnyside Unified School District, the City of Tucson, Raytan Construction and Pima Pool Deck, the renovated pool provides students with a safe, welcoming facility to continue growing in and out of the water.
As the Sunnyside and Desert View swim teams closed out their season together, the celebration served as a reminder that while the two schools compete in the pool, they remain united by a shared commitment to students, athletics and community.
