El Centro celebrates new Aquatic Center
EL CENTRO — After years of planning, the city of El Centro Saturday morning unveiled its new Aquatic Center, which was followed by hundreds of children using the new water park.
El Centro Councilman Jason Jackson said it was a great day for El Centro and its residents.
“It is absolutely amazing, and you will be blown away once you get into the doors,” he said.
The center includes an eight-lane competitive pool with shaded bleachers and scoreboard, a 75-foot-by-27foot warmup pool, a 1,600-square-foot kids’ wading pool with play equipment, a figure eight-shaped “lazy river,” and a 4,350-square-foot administrative and event building, as well as a storage area.
The Aquatic Center is final piece in a group of recreational complexes that include the Sidewinder Skate Park and the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Sports Pavilion on Adams Avenue, said Community Services Director Adrianna Nava.
El Centro Mayor Edgard Garcia said the center was built for “you guys, the residents,” before delivering his State of the City address.
“It’s a very exciting time for us,” he said. “There has been a lot of work.”
Garcia has heard the complaints about opening the center in late October, but said it will be open for generations, not just one year.
“This place is just overwhelming, beautiful and so important for the quality of life for our residents,” Garcia said.
He said city has challenges and accomplishments, but the accomplishments are what sets the city of El Centro apart.
The city, he said, has been repaving its streets and has widened La Brucherie Road along with many other accomplishments.
A new childhood park, with a walking trail and workout area, will be built behind Fire Station No. 3 near the 1900 block of Waterman Avenue.
“We are very thankful for these developments,” he said, before shifting the talk back to the opening of the Aquatic Center.
“We are very, very proud of this accomplishment,” he said. “I hope it is used by everyone.”
Sen. Ben Hueso said only a few places in the state have a nicer Aquatic
Center than El Centro now.
“This is a wonderful investment in the community, Hueso said. “This is a wonderful, wonderful project.”
Imperial County Board Supervisor Luis Plancarte, who remembers the Plunge — the old swimming pool — said places like the new center encourages people to move here.
Supervisor Ray Castillo congratulated the city on a wonderful job.
Judge Monica Lepe-Negrete, who serves on the Library and Community Services Board, complimented the lifeguards who were hired by the city to make sure the center remains safe.
Sylvia Preciado-Platero, with the American Red Cross in the Imperial County, said she wanted to applaud the city of El Centro.
“This indeed is an aquatic center,” she said. “It has pools for everyone,” she said. “Keep it safe, and let’s swim.”
Aquatic Center Supervisor Rebecca Corfman said it has been a dream of hers to have a facility like this one for the community.
“Please remember to be safe,” she said. “Wear that sunblock, drink water (and remember to eat).”
Resident Lupita Moreno-Perez attended the grand opening with her twin 13-year-old daughters and one of their friends. They all like to swim.
“I like it,” Moreno-Perez said of the center. “We have been hoping to have something like this for a number of years.”
She said the new Aquatic Center is much better than the old city swimming pool that she had visited in the past.
Resident Rudy James, ironman director for kids without fathers, took a number of them to the grand opening of the center.
“It’s beautiful,” he said as the kids swam in the big pool with the basketball hoops. “In the summer, (the center) will be real busy.”
Antonio Prado, who plans on visiting the Aquatic Center as often as he can, said it’s a huge benefit for the community.
Prado’s friends, Faith Ward and Allyson Alvarez, also said they plan on swimming a lot more now because of the Aquatic Center.