Aquatic Center opening postponed

EL CENTRO — Persons who had already laid out their swimsuits and beach towels for a previously announced grand opening of the city’s new Aquatic Center on Saturday can stash them away for another month. The city on Tuesday announced a new grand opening date of Oct. 26.

The city attributed the postponement to construction delays.

“We are all excited and eager to open the aquatic facility for the enjoyment of our community. We ask for your patience and understanding as we finish this important recreational facility,” City Manager Marcela Piedra said in a release. “It is not uncommon to experience construction delays in new projects and our hope was that this new facility would be opened by September 21st as initially planned.”

Once completed, plans call for the Aquatic Center to be open to the public 10 months of the year, though private events would be permitted during January and February, officials said.

It will have an eight-lane competitive pool with shaded bleachers and scoreboard, a 75-foot by 27-foot warm-up pool, 1,600-square-foot kids’ wading pool with play equipment, a figure eight-shaped “lazy river,” a 4,350-square-foot administrative and event building, as well as a storage area.

Some 76,000 annual visitors are expected to enjoy the $15.7 million, 3.5-acre aquatic center’s amenities.

Additional visitors are expected to take part in a variety of aquatic programs, memberships and facility rentals available as well. Those programs, memberships and rentals are expected to help subsidize overall operations and daily admission fees.

The city said a press release will be issued with details on the new grand opening date.