In Rose Garcia’s earliest reminiscences of her dad, she trails behind him as he knocks on doorways gathering signatures in an effort to petition the town to construct a pool on what was an empty, unused observe for Lanier Excessive College.
Atanacio Garcia started these efforts within the late Sixties, and didn’t see his dream for a recreation house for the Westside’s youth realized till June of 1981, when the San Antonio Natatorium first opened its doorways. He died in 2014.
And now, the Metropolis of San Antonio has renamed its solely public natatorium on 1430 W. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd. because the Atanacio Garcia Natatorium.
“Persons are going to attach historical past to his identify now,” stated Rose, 64, considering when she first discovered of the identify change that “his legacy can proceed.”
However the path to get there was not with out a lot effort on her father’s half.
Preventing for a pool on the West Facet
When Lanier Excessive College stopped utilizing its previous observe discipline, Atanacio noticed a possibility for the town to take a position extra in leisure companies for the encompassing neighborhood.
His objective, Rose stated, was neighborhood progress.
He began gathering signatures, attending Metropolis Council conferences and San Antonio Unbiased College District’s board conferences, making calls and assembly with elected officers. At one level, he even satisfied former congressman Henry B. Gonzalez to put in writing a letter to then-mayor John Gatti to contemplate Atanacio’s plea.
Her father, a full-time postal employee and navy veteran, hit partitions at first. Minutes from a 1976 Metropolis Council assembly element Atanacio studying the letter and telling officers he’s been making an attempt to get a pool constructed round Lanier Excessive College since 1968.
Nonetheless, he didn’t complain that elected officers didn’t hearken to him, Rose stated.
“He simply continued — one door would shut and one other one would open.”
Atanacio’s efforts didn’t get actual traction till his parish, Our Girl of Guadalupe Shrine, joined the faith-based grassroots group COPS/Metro in 1974. The group, which shaped to advocate for San Antonio’s underserved communities, had extra sway with elected leaders. They took up Atanacio’s imaginative and prescient as their very own.
Beatrice Cortez, the fourth president of COPS/Metro within the Eighties, labored alongside Atanacio on different neighborhood tasks together with paving sidewalks and implementing drainage programs to discourage neighborhoods from flooding.
Cortez remembers their introduction on the first COPS/Metro assembly she attended together with her husband.
“He received up and stated, ‘I’m Atanacio Garcia from Our Girl of Guadalupe, and we’ve a dream of getting a pool for our youngsters,” Cortez recollected.
He was quiet, Cortez added, however he was not one to again down. If he have been right here immediately, Cortez stated Atanacio would nonetheless be advocating for his neighborhood.
Ultimately, Atanacio was capable of sway new metropolis council members and Mayor Henry Cisneros to his aspect, and the town labored out a cope with SAISD to purchase the observe and construct an indoor pool with the assistance of a federal grant for neighborhood growth.
Atanacio’s daughter stated his neighborhood efforts have been firstly related to their religion.
Rose continues the household custom of neighborhood service immediately, describing herself as a “second-generation” COPS/Metro chief. She nonetheless attends the identical church.
“[Atanacio] was inspiring in some ways for serving our nation, serving our neighborhood and naturally, serving God,” she stated.
Olympic-sized pool a San Antonio flagship
Because the natatorium opened in 1981, the $3.2 million facility has attracted hundreds of holiday makers yearly. The Olympic-sized indoor pool has hosted many highschool, worldwide and native competitions. In 2000, the Australian Olympic swimming workforce educated on the natatorium.
In response to the town, the natatorium has additionally produced an Olympic trial qualifier, many swimming and diving UIL state qualifiers and regional champions.
Final 12 months, the natatorium quickly closed to bear renovations together with a brand new roof and lockers. In contrast to the town’s outside public swimming pools, the natatorium, positioned in District 5, is open year-round.
In February, the Parks and Recreation Division and the District 5 workplace hosted a neighborhood assembly the place Atanacio’s household and buddies gathered in help of the renaming. Authentic copies of his petitions and letters to native leaders have been displayed for public viewing.
Later in March, the town council unanimously authorised the renaming of the natatorium in remembrance of Atanacio, an effort largely spearheaded by former councilwoman and SAISD board president Patti Radle and present Councilwoman Teri Castillo (D5).
“Atanacio Garcia was a tireless advocate for his neighborhood,” Castillo stated on the time. “San Antonio is eternally indebted to his neighborhood organizing, and now everybody who visits the Natatorium will eternally know his identify.”
