Town, County and State officials gathered yesterday at the future site of Yucca Valley’s Aquatics and Recreation Center, the town’s largest single infrastructure project in decades.
Yucca Valley Town Council Member Jim Schooler discussed the origins of the project, saying
“It got started around 10 years ago. I had a conversation with then-Assembly member Chad Mayes, who said he thought we could get some funding for an aquatics center and gymnasium. I moved to Yucca Valley 49 years ago to join the Parks and Recreation Department, and we had precious few facilities. Chad Mayes was once a lifeguard at the pool that we “borrow” from the high school every year for our eight or nine weeks of aquatic programming. It’s going to be great to have year-round programming.”
Also called the Yucca Valley ARC, the aquatics facility will span 40,000 square feet and integrate with existing resources at Brehm Park. Its state-of-the-art amenities include three pools, a therapy and fitness space, an indoor gymnasium, administrative support offices, locker rooms, and more. HMC Architects designed the building by pulling inspiration from the desert landscape, climate, and history.
County 3rd District Representative and Chair of the Board of Supervisors Dawn Rowe spoke at the groundbreaking, discussing her initial move to Yucca Valley, her recognition of the need for the facility while serving on the Town Council, and her work securing significant county funding for the project while on the Board of Supervisors.
“When we moved here in 2003, I couldn’t believe that there wasn’t any type of YMCA. When I sat on the Town Council, I thought, facilities like this serve the entire basin, but its our tax dollars that are funding it within the Town of Yucca Valley. I wasn’t sure if it was equitable or fair for our residents to bear that burden.
“So we didn’t want to reduce the scope of the project, so I was able to find $5 million dollars in funding to contribute to the project, so in that way it will serve all of our residents Basin-wide for the same costs and fees.”
Mayor Robert Lombardo said that the facility is more than just a building, saying that it is representative of the town’s commitment to “fostering a healthier, more active and more connected community.”
The project is expected to be completed by 2026.
