Photos: West Hills High Dedicates New Pool Facility

Students made a splash at the new 18,000-square-foot as it was officially and opened Tuesday afternoon.

The $4.2 million dollar complex features a team room for high school swim and water polo teams, a public restroom and snack bar, and of course the 25 meter by 25 yard pool, paid for with .

The planning stage for the pool took more than a year and construction time took more than 10 months- a drop in the bucket for a school that has been waiting for this since opening 25 years ago. A few speakers thanked Santana for letting West Hills use their pool for so many years, but were happy to have their own now.

Councilmember , school officials and student athletes delivered remarks as part of the dedication ceremony.

The speakers made a point of thanking the taxpayers for passing and paying for Prop U school improvement bonds which made the facility possible.

Students and faculty cut a pool lane line in place of a traditional ribbon cutting.

The new aquatics complex will provide facilities for community groups, youth aquatics teams, water polo and swim teams, and physical education classes.

The pool, one of three newly completed pools in the district, features several energy efficient systems, including variable speed pumps, LED underwater and overhead lights, thermal , and a 98 percent energy efficient heater.

Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, the West Hills High School water polo and swim teams held practice for the first time in the new pool.