Local & Community
Palm Desert Aquatic Center Reopens After $3.2 Million Renovation
The Palm Desert Aquatic Center is back, refreshed and ready for another scorching Coachella Valley summer, after a months-long, $3.2 million renovation paid for by the city's general fund.
The facility closed in December for upgrades that include improved filtration, renovated locker rooms, and new pool decking. Mayor Evan Trubee says the investment is exactly the kind of thing the city is meant to provide. "When the summer gets hot, we want to offer a place for residents to go cool off, have fun, recreate," he said. "It's healthy and fun."
Manager David Keyes says the center offers swim lessons for all ages, lap swimming, and water aerobics classes, and is now hiring ahead of the busy summer season. "During the summer we have nearly 150 people work here," Keyes said, adding that around 20 lifeguard spots are still open. So if you're looking for a summer job, now's the time to apply.
For lifeguards like Robbie, the gig sells itself. "The work environment's amazing, the management is really cool, the pay is amazing, and the hours are really flexible," he said.
More than 110,000 people visit the Palm Desert Aquatic Center each year, and if the newly gleaming pool decks and crystal-clear water are any indication, this summer is shaping up to be the best one yet.
By: Kai Beech
May 18, 2026
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