Seven years after opening its doors to the public, the Coggan Family Aquatic Complex on the La Jolla High School campus continues to make waves with its annual Splash Bash fund-raiser and celebration. This year’s event is Sunday, Oct. 11, from noon to 4 p.m. at 800 Nautilus St. And with costly capital maintenance projects due in a few years, the foundation running the pool needs to raise a tidal wave of cash to keep it afloat. “It’s basically a fund-raiser but it’s also a celebration,” said Gary Felt, La Jolla Aquatic Complex Foundation president. “It’s quite a crowd and a family [oriented] type of event.” Hundreds gather by the pool every year for a day of music, food and floating fun on inflatable rafts and inner tubes. The $5 entrance fee helps cover operational costs and utility bills. Live rock ’n’ roll, an inflatable Viking ship, a surf simulator and an inflatable jumper for kids will keep the boat rocking as parents and neighbors put down hot dogs, mini-burgers, homemade sausages and other delights from local food shops. The “swim-athon” winners will also leave with prizes like digital cameras and iPods. Because it’s home to La Jolla High School’s water polo and swim teams, many believe the pool belongs to the school but it doesn’t, Felt said. Though the original organizers tried to put it under the San Diego Unified School District budget umbrella several years ago, the district flushed the idea, effectively washing its hands of the responsibility. With most community pools subsidized by government or private groups, the foundation stays above water all by itself, if just barely. The public pool runs on membership fees, pool parties, summer camp fees and other service fees to cover costs, Felt said. But it’s only within the last two years that the foundation broke even on its estimated $500,000 to $600,000 budget, he said. The Splash Bash pours about $25,000 to $50,000 a year into thirsty coffers, he said. With maintenance costs just over the horizon, Felt said the foundation must raise about $1 million over the next few years for future plastering and other capital maintenance projects. Recent years’ bashes have aquatics director Randy Frankie optimistic about this year’s turnout. “The community, I think, loves the pool and really appreciates it that we now have it,” Frankie said. In the past, the local community wanted a pool for a long time, he said. Early in the decade, the Coggan family made an initial donation of about $1 million to get the pool and other school-related capital projects going. Eventually a nonprofit foundation formed, complete with a board of directors. Now, “people wouldn’t remember a time when we didn’t have it here. So you gotta take care of it,” he said. For more information on Splash Bash or to make a donation, visit www.cfaquatics.org.