New Community Aquatic Center

The day was warm and the anticipation was high. When we walked in through the dense metal gates and saw the mountains as a backdrop to the palm trees, green grass and blue water, felt the gentle breeze off the pools and smelled the hot barbeque coals I knew it was a good beginning to a great June day. The pop-up shade structures were erected. Chairs were set out in rows, and the podium stood ready. People were milling about, looking for seats, admiring the magnitude of the project and anticipating the day’s festivities. The unveiling of the Palm Desert Aquatic Center was a long-awaited community event and about 2000 people came to enjoy it.

Palm Desert California is a thriving community located 125 miles east of Los Angeles and just 15 miles east of Palm Springs. It is in a part of the state where the sun shines nearly 350 days a year and the weather is always warm and beautiful. This resort destination location filled with natural beauty and cultural and recreational amenities is home to more than 50,000 permanent residents and 32,000 seasonal residents.

The newest attraction added to this Riverside County community is an amenity many have been happy to see completed. On June 25, 2011 the Palm Desert Aquatic Center debuted as a place designed to please water lovers of every age and fitness level. “A lot of forecasting and coordination goes into a project like this, from construction to operations, many people have dedicated their time to realize its success”, said Kelly Emmer, the aquatic center’s program coordinator and former water polo player for the University of Redlands. “As a long-time resident of this community, and a swimmer, I have anticipated the development of an aquatic center in Palm Desert, hoping it would meet the numerous recreational and competitive needs of the area,” she added.

The facility has multiple features and resides on nearly eight acres within the Civic Center Park property. The center includes a lighted, 50-meter by 25-yard, Olympic-sized competition pool, a family friendly 1,600-square-foot recreation pool, an entertaining splash playground, and a 7,000 square-foot main building. The building houses separate dressing rooms for men, women, and families, a concession area, and a community use room. The recreation pool is equipped with a wade in entry on one end and two large waterslides that promise limitless entertainment on the other, and the splash pool is furnished with small slides and a spray feature for even the smallest swimmer to enjoy.

The construction of this $7.7 million dollar facility took nine months to complete but the overall planning process was a much longer endeavor. Since opening its doors, the Palm Desert Aquatic Center has been a very popular place to spend an afternoon attracting attendance far exceeding the initial projections. In a September issue of The Desert Sun, City Manager John Wohlmuth said, “I would say we did a good job with designing a center that provides the amenities that youth and families are looking for.”

Operating a swim center this size is a large undertaking and in February 2011 the YMCA of the Desert was awarded a contract from the Palm Desert City Council to manage the facility. With the grand opening date set for June, the YMCA began implementing the management tasks necessary for operation. Forty-two employees were hired including a pool manager, lifeguards, customer service and food service personnel.

Roger Colidron was hired as a Lead Lifeguard and helped prepare the center for opening. “This facility has generated a lot of excitement and will provide not only long-term recreational benefits for the residents of this valley but also a training facility for the many young desert residents who may have dreams to compete,” he said. “It’s a swim center for everyone. It’s a place where people of all ages can learn to swim and learn to love the water; a place where water safety, swimming skills, and fun can be realized side by side.”

Admission fees are $4 for adult Palm Desert residents and $6 for adult non-residents. Fees for seniors over 60 and children ages 6 to 12 are $3 for residents and $4.50 for non-residents. Fees for children ages 2 to 5 are $2.50 for residents and $3.75 for non-residents. Annual and three-month passes are also available. For more information about the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, please call 760-565-7467 or find us online at the Family YMCA of the Desert