After an 18-month closure for renovations, National City’s Las Palmas pool is ready to welcome the public again starting Saturday.
The city announced Wednesday that the facility will reopen from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for recreational and lap swimming.
“We really are a community that heavily utilizes the pool,” said Councilmember Jose Rodriguez, who toured the pool site Wednesday. “We were hoping to open up by the summer but there were a whole bunch of setbacks that occurred during construction. But it’s finally here.”
Built in 1958, the pool had fallen into disrepair over the years. It was in dire need of emergency fixes that included upgrading the dilapidated pool deck and replastering the pool after a large hole was found at the bottom. The pool was last replastered in 2007. City staff had reported that the facility would repeatedly lose about 7,000 gallons of water per day because of deferred maintenance. There was also work done to replace a mechanical equipment room and perimeter fence.
The $4 million renovation project is funded by $2 million in state monies secured by Sens. Toni Atkins and Ben Hueso, whose districts include National City. Council members had allocated $2.3 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the rest.
Earlier this year, the City Council agreed to a two-year contract extension for its pool service provider EXOS Community Services, LLC. The privately held fitness and wellness management company has operated the city facility since 2015.
EXOS is responsible for operating the pool with personnel and programming, while the city handles repairs and maintenance.
The city is rolling out numerous classes. Below is a schedule that is subject to change, including closures during the upcoming holidays.
- Long-course lap swim: Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Short-course lap swim: Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Sundays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 4 to 7 p.m.; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 a.m., 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and 4 to 7 p.m.
- Recreational swim lap pool: Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m.; 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 7 p.m.
- Group exercise: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 to 11:55 a.m.
- Reserved for Sweetwater Union High School District: Mondays through Fridays from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
