Palm Desert Makes Room For Aquatic Center

The City of Palm Desert celebrated the start of construction Friday on its new Aquatic Center at Civic Center Park.

It will cost $7.77 million to build the eight-acre center. When complete, it will include three swimming pools, changing rooms, a community multipurpose room, a concession stand and office spaces.

It will be built on the northeast corner of the park. It will be accessed via Magnesia Falls Drive.

A lighted, 50-meter by 25-yard competition pool equipped with three-meter and one-meter divings boards will be complemented by a family friendly 8,800-square-foot recreation pool featuring waterslides, play equipment and a wade-in entry.

The center’s 7,000-square-foot desert contemporary-styled main building will be built to meet Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) specification to ensure that it is sustainable and energy efficient.

The College of the Desert will donate $1 million to the project. The Palm Desert Redevelopment Agency will be responsible for the remaining balance.

The Aquatic Center is expected to open in summer 2011.