Irvine launches $42 million expansion project at Woollett aquatic center

Irvine has launched a $42 million expansion project at the city’s William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center that will add more space for swimming and having fun in the water.

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Located between Heritage Community Park and Irvine High School, the aquatics facility already houses two competition pools and a smaller teaching pool.

The city plans to build a new Olympic-sized competition pool, along with a splash pad for children ages 2 to 12 and a NinjaCross obstacle course. A new parking lot will be constructed along Walnut Avenue to accommodate the additional services.

Construction on the project is scheduled to wrap up in spring 2028.

The expansion is part of a concentrated effort to expand the services offered at the aquatic center and meet the high demand for the facility’s swimming programs, Mayor Larry Agran said. The city’s Learn to Swim program, which hosts swimming and water safety classes for infants through adults, currently serves more than 10,000 children annually. An event on Friday hosted free swim lessons for families and the chance to trade in unsafe floaties for a properly fitted, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

“(Irvine) is becoming a real leader in drowning prevention initiatives,” Agran said. “This fourth pool really allows us to dramatically expand our swim lesson opportunities, reduce our waitlist to zero (and) make sure every kid in our city is an accomplished swimmer, or at least trained sufficiently to help us prevent future drownings.”

Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental death for children in Orange County, and the city is committed to offering community members affordable and effective swim readiness programs, Agran said.

The NinjaCross obstacle course will also be a first-of-its-kind offered through the city, in conjunction with a variety of fitness programs. Residents will be able to rent the facility for birthday parties and other events. City officials expect the added amenities to pay off the project costs, though the city is not focused on generating revenue, they said.

“The city is more focused on providing a facility to the public that they’re going to be able to enjoy and use,” said Manager of Project Delivery Stacy DeLong.

As the center expands its programming, the city also wanted to provide additional benefits for parents and spectators, said Principal Project Manager Bobby Ghaemi. The project will actualize a long-awaited update to the facility’s viewing platforms: covered bleachers.

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Upon the project’s completion, visitors will be able to watch events from the comfort of the shade and there will be a new training and locker room building, a pool equipment building and other utility upgrades.

The Community and Library Services Commission drafted its initial plan for the expansion project in 2021 and wrapped up the final design in 2025, according to Ghaemi. The City Council approved the construction contract with S.J. Amoroso Construction Co., LLC at a meeting in April.

The Woollett Center and nearby facilities will remain open and fully operational for the duration of construction, officials said. Temporary pedestrian routes will maintain safe and accessible travel along Walnut Avenue, and the construction site will be isolated to prevent disruptions during the school year, officials said.

The city considered the possibility of building a comparable aquatic facility at the Irvine Great Park, however, cost was the limiting factor, Agran said. The proposed project would have cost the city between approximately $150 million and $200 million. He did not rule out the possibility of a future aquatic facility at the Great Park, but emphasized that the city will continue to prioritize projects that support its long-term vision for public parks and recreation within the approved budget.

Looking ahead to the project’s completion, this expansion could also increase Irvine’s involvement in national and global sporting events, officials said.

While the city has yet to announce any major events, city officials expect the aquatics center to host several countries for training trips leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. This summer, the Woollett Center is scheduled to host the USA Water Polo Junior Olympics tournament, the Toyota National Swimming Championships, the Speedo Junior National Swimming Championships and the Pan Pacific Swimming Championships.

“Increasingly, Irvine is becoming known as a sports tourism city,” Agran said. “I have no doubt that we’re going to get some attention and connection with the Olympics.”

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