City officials broke ground Wednesday on the $39.4 million Smith Park Community & Aquatic Center project, launching a major renovation and expansion of one of Pico Rivera’s primary recreational facilities.
The project will include a renovation of the existing community center and the addition of two swimming pools designed to support swimming lessons, recreational swimming, fitness classes, aquatic therapy and competitive events, according to city officials.
Additional improvements will include meeting rooms, activity spaces, upgraded locker facilities, shade structures, a community event lawn, outdoor gathering areas and accessibility upgrades throughout the site.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents much more than the beginning of a construction project — it represents an investment in the future of Pico Rivera,” Mayor Gustavo Camacho said in a statement. “The Smith Park Community & Aquatic Center will become a place where children learn to swim, families gather, seniors stay active, and neighbors come together.”
City Manager Steve Carmona said the project was designed to meet the community’s changing recreational needs while modernizing aging infrastructure.
Officials said the new facility will serve as a year-round destination for recreation programs, community events, fitness activities and family gatherings.