The City of Irvine has begun work on a $42 million expansion project at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, a facility recognized as a key venue in American swimming. This significant undertaking, first hinted at in 2023, is anticipated to reach completion by Spring 2028.
The expansion will introduce a fourth pool, which also marks the complex’s third 50-meter pool, positioning it among the largest aquatics complexes nationwide. This upgrade will enable the center to host meets of immense scale, complementing existing facilities that already welcome major events. Covered bleachers will also be added to accommodate spectators for high-profile competitions, including the 2026 US National Championships, the 2026 US Junior National Championships, and the 2026 Pan Pacific Championships.
Beyond competitive events, the center serves as the home base for Irvine Novaquatics, one of the nation's most extensive and successful swimming programs. Its alumni roster includes Olympic athletes such as Amanda Beard, Aaron Peirsol, Jason Lezak, Milorad Cavic, Jessica Hardy, Lenny Krayzelburg, Gabi Rose, Gabe Woodward, Colleen Lane, and John Mykkanen. The facility is also expected to host several countries for pre-Olympic staging camps leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Games.
The project incorporates several enhancements not solely focused on competitive swimmers, aiming to broaden community access and fitness offerings. These include a new training and locker room building, a pool equipment building, and essential utility upgrades. For community enjoyment, a splash pad, additional parking, and a NinjaCross obstacle course suspended over the water will be introduced to diversify the facility’s recreational opportunities.
A primary community benefit highlighted by city leaders is the expansion of swim lesson capacity. Mayor Larry Agran stated that the new pool "allows us to dramatically expand our swim lesson opportunities" with the goal to reduce the waitlist to zero and ensure every child in Irvine is an accomplished swimmer or adequately trained to help prevent future drownings. The city's existing Learn to Swim program already provides services to more than 10,000 local children annually, indicating the scale of current demand.
From a fiscal and logistical standpoint, the city expects usage fees to cover the costs of the expansion. Furthermore, city officials anticipate no additional traffic impact in the area as a result of the construction. Crucially, the project design ensures that none of the existing facilities will require shutdown while the construction work is underway, minimizing disruption to current users.
In related discussions, the city has previously explored establishing a second aquatics center at Great Park, with cost estimates for such a facility ranging from $80 million to $250 million. That project, originally intended to house the USA Water Polo National Teams, did not proceed. However, the concept continues to be revisited, with city leaders exploring its revival and advancement last year to provide increased access for citizens, shifting the focus from an elite aquatics facility to one serving broader community needs.
