Palm Desert Aquatic Center Delays Opening
The grand opening of the $8 million outdoor Aquatic Center in the Civic Center Park has been delayed until June 25, a city official said today.
The eight-acre center, which includes three pools, diving boards and water slides, was originally expected to open June 11.
Recent storms in the southern United States delayed the shipping of water pumps for the center’s Olympic-sized pool. Workers also had difficulty finding the proper tiles to mark off the pool’s individual swimming lanes, delaying construction, said city spokesperson David Hermann.
“It is worth taking the time to ensure that the grand opening fully showcases this exciting new amenity for our residents and for everyone in the Coachella Valley,” city manager John Wohlmuth said. “We want the public to be able to dive in and experience everything that Palm Desert’s Aquatic Center has to offer.”
A one-hour ceremony at 10 a.m. will kick off the grand opening, after which a special $1 fee will gain admission.
Normally, entry to the center will cost residents $4 and $6 for those from outside Palm Desert, Hermann said.
Hermann said the facility came in $3.1 million under its proposed $11.1 million budget and that College of the Desert contributed $1 to the project. He said the YMCA has been contracted to operate the facility.
