Hagåtña, Guam – Acting Governor Josh Tenorio led a celebratory groundbreaking ceremony Thursday morning to officially launch the long-awaited renovation of the Hagåtña Pool, one of Guam’s most iconic recreational and athletic facilities.
“For decades, this pool has been more than just a place to swim. It has been a home for our athletes, a gathering place for families, and a source of community pride,” said Acting Governor Tenorio. “And in just one year’s time, we’ll be ready to dive back in.”
Built in the 1970s in the heart of the island’s capital, the Hagåtña Pool has hosted generations of island residents, from youth swim teams and lifeguard trainees to seniors attending aqua Zumba and community members seeking relief on a hot day. The $8.8 million renovation project, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act and the U.S. Economic Development Administration, will deliver major structural improvements, new energy-efficient and ADA-compliant features, updated filtration systems, and fully modernized amenities.
“This is a celebration of what was, what is, and what’s still to come,” said Tenorio. “We’re not just rebuilding a pool, but we’re restoring a place where talent is discovered, discipline is learned, and memories are made.”
Tenorio honored Guam’s legacy of competitive swimming and the role the Hagåtña Pool played in shaping it.
“Our island has a proud and celebrated history of competitive swimming—a legacy of which we can all be very proud,” Tenorio said. “Names such as Jonathan Sakovich, Patrick Sagisi, Christopher Duenas, and Ben Schulte come to mind. And Barbara Gayle, Pilar Shimizu, Annie Dierking, and Mia Lee—so many of them trained right here.”
The Hagåtña Pool renovation is one of several infrastructure projects under the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio Administration designed to rebuild and modernize spaces that matter to Guam’s communities. Construction begins immediately and is expected to be completed by mid-2026.
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