AMTV, SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, CA, June 14 – County of Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation, in partnership with Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis, the Department of Public Works, and Hacienda La Puente Unified School District, today celebrated the grand opening of the Hilda L. Solis Aquatic Center—the first County-operated aquatic facility in the San Gabriel Valley.
The new facility is located in West Puente Valley, a grouping of unincorporated communities within the San Gabriel Valley, on the former Temple Elementary School site.
According to the 2016 Countywide Parks Needs Assessment, unincorporated communities in the San Gabriel Valley are among the most underserved in access to aquatic facilities. The assessment identified a new aquatic center as a priority for the region. A later analysis by the County Parks Department confirmed high demand for sports, with zero public pools per 100,000 residents in the area and local swim activity measuring at just 76% of the national average.
The opening marks the culmination of a decade-long effort spearheaded by Chair Pro Tem Solis, who grew up in the Puente Valley and attended the former Temple Elementary School.
“This aquatic center holds a special place in my heart. I grew up just a few blocks from here, and my siblings and I attended the elementary school that once occupied this site. Since taking office, I have worked tirelessly to bring this project to life, and secured nearly $24 million in County resources to ensure this community finally has access to aquatic programs and a space to call its own,”said Hilda L. Solis, Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor. “This center is more than just a pool. It is a safe, welcoming place where families can come together to learn, play, and stay healthy. I am proud to see this long-held vision become a reality—one that will serve generations to come in my home, the San Gabriel Valley.”
Designed and built by Balfour Beatty and HMC Architects, the aquatic center spans 3.1 acres and includes:
* An Olympic-size 50-meter by 25-yard competitive swimming pool
* A 25-meter by 25-yard practice pool
* A 13,000-square-foot building with classrooms, offices, and changing rooms (men’s, women’s, family, and all-gender)
* A connecting plaza to Allen J. Martin Park
* A parking lot
* Natural playground for ages 2–12
* A 4,200-square-foot pollinator garden
* A looped walking path with an exercise circuit
The facility is within reach of approximately 10,000 local youth and includes a joint-use agreement with Hacienda La Puente Unified School District. Programming will include youth sports, swimming, diving, water polo, and artistic swimming. Swim lessons will be available for all ages and skill levels, from parent-and-child classes to adaptive and advanced levels. Thanks to funding provided by Chair Pro Tem Solis, lessons will be subsidized or offered at low costs to ensure greater accessibility for families. In addition, free recreational swim times will be provided for families to enjoy.
* The center will also support adult programs, lifeguard training, sports competitions, and health and safety clinics.
“When the San Gabriel Valley community told us that an aquatics center was their top priority, we knew we needed to deliver,”said Norma E. García-González, Director of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation. “This was all made possible by Chair Pro Tem Solis’s leadership and unwavering support. LA County Parks is proud to name this new aquatic center after Chair Pro Tem Solis, honoring this trailblazing Latina leader, born and raised right here in the Puente Valley. She never forgot where she came from, and now she will always be remembered.”
Additional project partners included the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, which led development, and the Department of Arts and Culture, which led the civic art installation. The school district provided a 40-year land lease for the project and
played a key role in securing competitive grant funding.
Project Funding Sources:
* $25 million – First District Discretionary Funding (Los Angeles County Chair Pro Tem and First District Supervisor Hilda L. Solis)
* $14.75 million – Proposition A (administered by the L.A. County Regional Park and Open Space District)
* $8.5 million – Proposition 68 (California Department of Parks and Recreation)
* $2 million – Proposition 68 (San Gabriel and Lower Los Angeles Rivers and Mountains Conservancy)
* $1.5 million – Federal Earmark (Former Congresswoman Grace Napolitano)
The grand opening celebration featured performances by the La Puente High School Band, the USA Synchronized Swim Team, and the Bob Baker Marionette Theater. Attendees also enjoyed a community resource fair with several Los Angeles County departments, along with free food and family-friendly activities.