SAN BRUNO, Calif. (KGO) — A town is taking a step forward after a tragic day 14 years ago, after a gas pipeline owned by PGThe explosion in a district of San Bruno killed eight people and destroyed dozens of homes. The compensation money for the disaster was used to build a new recreational and swimming center for the community, which opened on Saturday.
“It’s great to see how much work and time so many people have put in,” said Mike Palmer, parks and recreation commissioner.
Palmer gave us a glimpse inside the new San Bruno Recreation and Aquatic Center, which features three swimming pools, a fitness center and a gym – a place to enjoy and reflect on a tragic day in the city’s history.
“It is a worthy honor,” Palmer said.
On September 9, 2010, a gas pipeline owned and operated by PG&E exploded in the Crestmoor neighborhood of San Bruno, killing eight people, injuring dozens, and damaging or destroying nearly 40 homes.
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“The whole community is devastated. The neighborhood was destroyed. People still bear the mental and physical scars of that evening,” said San Bruno Mayor Rico Medina.
Medina says the new Aquatic Center is dedicated to the lives lost. It was built and funded by a $70 million compensation payment from PG&E.
“The old saying goes that something good must come out of the destruction of 2010. That’s exactly what I’m going through,” Medina said.
“I ran into the front yard and all I could see were flames in the sky,” Pamela Fornesi said.
Fornesi, like her daughter-in-law Tessa, remembers that day vividly.
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“I looked out the window. We thought a plane had crashed. A friend was evacuated and was sleeping on our couch,” said Tessa Mullins.
The state-of-the-art facility is the result of years of discussions with the community about how they wanted the money from PG&E to be output.
“I think the overall project is a good way to spend the money. I think all of San Bruno can use it in one way or another,” Fornesi said.
City leaders say the $51 million, 45,000-square-foot building is also a testament to the community’s resilience.
“San Bruno came together. We stayed together with our San Bruno pride and rebuilt,” Medina said.
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