$100K Splash Kicks Off Walnut Creek Aquatic Center Redo

WALNUT CREEK, CA — The first ripple in a long-anticipated transformation of Walnut Creek's swimming options is gaining momentum.

The work won't be done in time for the swim season this year. But the finish is closer than ever with the first down payment on the multi-million project.

The Walnut Creek Aquatics Foundation delivered the first $100,000 installment toward a new Aquatic and Community Center — the opening splash in a $3 million fundraising commitment.

The new facility will replace the Heather Farm Park Community Center and refit the site as a modern, combined aquatic and community hub. The effort is funded primarily through Walnut Creek’s voter-approved Measure O, a 10-year, half-cent sales tax measure designed to invest in local infrastructure and amenities.

Construction is expected to run from summer 2025 to the end of 2027. The existing community center will be demolished to make way for the new 25,000- to 27,000-square-foot facility. Plans call for a 4.7-acre campus featuring a 50-meter lap pool, a recreational pool, bathhouse, mechanical pool building, large indoor gathering spaces, multipurpose rooms and classrooms, and outdoor event terraces.

While the transformation unfolds, Clarke Swim Center is expected to remain open to the public. Construction hours are generally set for 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., with weekend work permitted if necessary. Residents can expect typical construction noise and temporary fencing to for pedestrian safety.

The conceptual site plan for the project was accepted by the Walnut Creek City Council on Feb. 7, 2023, with a revised design approved April 16, 2024. City officials say the plan will continue to shape detailed design work over the coming year, with public meetings scheduled to gather community input.

Residents can track updates, view meeting agendas, and submit questions to the city as the project moves from blueprint to groundbreaking.

The City Council meets again Tuesday, March 3, at 6 p.m. to consider the proposed Porsche project and a budget-balancing item as part of ongoing fiscal planning.