Pico Rivera Breaks Ground on $39.4 Million Aquatic Center
Construction began July 8 on the Smith Park Aquatic Center in Pico Rivera, launching an approximately $39.4 million public recreation project and closing the Smith Park Community Center during the work.
The groundbreaking took place during the week of July 6, according to local reporting. The project is planned as a renovated community center alongside a new aquatic facility, or pool campus, at Smith Park.
The immediate effect for residents is a change in where recreation services are provided. The City of Pico Rivera said the Smith Park Community Center closed to the public in anticipation of construction. Recreation programs moved to other facilities, while staff relocated to the Parks and Recreation Building on Passons Boulevard.
What is changing at Smith Park
The project is intended to create a facility that can support swimming instruction, exercise, swim teams, water polo and broader community recreation. Los Angeles County described the new aquatic center as a facility serving Pico Rivera residents and also pointed to its potential use for cooling off during hot weather.
The project does not mean every part of Smith Park is closed. The city said the park remains supervised by recreation staff during the construction transition.
That distinction matters for residents who use the park while the community center and its programming are being reorganized. The city has identified the closure, program moves and staff relocation, but the approved project information does not provide a complete list of each program’s new location.
Cost and public investment
The project cost has been reported as approximately $39.4 million. That figure comes from local reporting and should be matched against the city’s final contract or adopted project budget for a definitive accounting.
The available project information also does not establish the exact funding mix. It does not confirm whether the project includes state or federal grants, and it should not be described as being funded entirely by the city without additional budget or contract records.
Even with those financial details still requiring confirmation, the reported price places the aquatic center among the city’s major recreation and public-facility investments. The construction will affect access to community-center services now, while the planned pool campus is intended to expand the types of aquatic and fitness activities available in the future.
No opening date announced
The city’s construction notice does not state a projected completion date or final opening date. Residents therefore have a confirmed construction start but no source-backed timeline for when the renovated community center or new aquatic facility will begin operating.
For now, the next step is the construction phase and the continued relocation of programs and staff. Updates about the building schedule, final budget, funding sources and eventual opening will be needed as the project moves forward.
The Smith Park project is a local facilities story with an immediate service consequence: community-center users must use alternate locations during construction. Its longer-term purpose is to provide Pico Rivera with a dedicated setting for swimming lessons, exercise, team sports, water polo and community recreation.
Sources
- Smith Park Aquatic Construction Begins, City of Pico Rivera
- Breaking ground on a new aquatic center for Pico Rivera, Los Angeles County
- Pico Rivera breaks ground on $39.4M Smith Park aquatic center, Hoodline, citing local officials and MyNewsLA
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