CITY SAYS KIDS WILL SWIM FREE; LARGER-THAN-USUAL CROWDS ANTICIPATED.

Byline: Phillip W. Browne Staff Writer

With temperatures headed toward the 90s, Tony Garcia escaped to the cool, blue waters of a city pool Thursday without raiding his mother's wallet. This summer, all kids swim for free in Los Angeles.

``Now I can come every day when my mom goes to work, and I don't have to ask her for any money,'' the 11-year-old said before diving into the Reseda Recreation Center pool. ``I can just come.''

Larger-than-normal crowds of parched kids are flocking to city pools since they opened June 26 under the new no-fee policy. At Riordan's request, the City Council voted to abolish the 75-cent admission fee for swimmers under 17.

People 65 and older also can swim for free in any of the city's 50 pools. Swimmers 18 and older still must pay $1.25.

As a result of this new discount, recreation center managers said they have noticed attendance has risen by as much as 75 percent compared to last year.

``Especially in low-income areas, I think you're going to see a pretty big jump in swimmers. We're already starting to notice it,'' said Matt Aldrich, who has managed the city's Reseda pool for three years. ``It makes you feel good to see these kids having fun.''

Matthew Bebawi spent his ninth birthday Thursday swimming with his sister in Reseda.

``It's good it's free now, because more kids can come,'' Matthew said, as his 7-year-old sister Madonna giggled nearby at the Reseda Recreation Center.

Kids in Canoga Park said they too would be coming more often.

``I like that it's free. It's hard for a kid to get money to swim,'' said 13-year-old Raoul Medina, waiting outside the Lanark Recreation Center.

``I'll probably come every day. There'll be more people to hang with.''

Last year, the 14 city pools across the San Fernando Valley drew more than 225,600 residents looking to escape the summer heat, city officials said. The Pacoima, Reseda and Chatsworth pools averaged about 200 people a day, and they were expecting that to jump to at least 300 per day, said Los Angeles Aquatic Director Joe Batarse.

The city employs about 300 teen-agers to work as locker room attendants and lifeguards - the same amount as in 1998 - and that will be more than enough staff to handle the increased summer traffic.

``We have about 30 to 40 extra lifeguards that we have on standby, but now those people are working more hours,'' Batarse said. ``We've had to hire very few new staff members.''

The city will forfeit about $800,000 a year in revenue from abolishing the fees, but that loss will be absorbed by the city's general fund, leaving all pool services intact, Batarse said.

The only Valley pool that remains closed is the Sepulveda Pool, scheduled to reopen in September after a $212,000 renovation, Batarse said. The 40-year-old facility was closed in 1994 when officials discovered settling earth had cracked the pool bottom.

As for the Bebawi children, their mother was hesitantly looking forward to their free summer swims.

``They scream and cry that they want to go swimming all the time,'' Mervat Bebawi said. ``Now I'm afraid they're going to want to come every day.''