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Temecula aquatics division reports strong summer participation and recognizes volunteers
Summary
Aquatics staff told the Community Services Commission that pools hosted thousands of participants this summer, delivered scholarships and training, and logged more than 1,600 volunteer hours; staff recognized junior lifeguards, swim buddies and water safety aides.
The Temecula Community Services Commission heard Tuesday that the city's aquatics division served thousands of residents this summer and that volunteers contributed more than 1,600 hours to support programming.
The aquatics presentation, led by aquatic supervisor Mary Walton and senior lead lifeguards Shay Cross and Zachary Gonzales, said the city ran programs at three pools — the Community Recreation Center, the Margarita Recreation Center (MRC) and Chaparral High School — offering lap swim, swim lessons, water exercise and public swim sessions.
City staff said 4,902 participants took swim lessons during the June—to—August summer season, and an additional 1,199 participants were recorded in fall and spring lessons. Public-swim attendance for the summer totaled 24,531, staff reported. The division said it offered two scholarship streams for lessons this year; 547 participants were eligible for scholarship aid.
"We are presenting today on our 2025 summer season recap for our aquatics division," Mary Walton said during the presentation.
Staff also reported roughly 5,000 participants used lap swim across the three facilities and about 1,000 patrons participated in water-exercise classes. Walton said contract instructors and new offerings 'including aqua yoga, aqua pilates and an in-pool sound bath'drew increased interest and helped expand attendance at the Margarita Recreation Center.
The division described its workforce and training: about 120 part-time aquatics staff, including lead and senior lifeguards, water-safety instructors and lifeguard instructors. Walton said pre-season training is roughly 40 hours per person, and lifeguards complete mandated training of four hours per month during the summer.
Commissioners and staff recognized volunteers who assisted as water-safety aides, junior lifeguards and "swim buddies" in the adaptive program. Speaker remarks and staff materials said junior lifeguards provided over 900 volunteer hours and swim buddies provided over 700 volunteer hours; a commission remark summarized total volunteer time as "1,600 hours plus." Staff handed certificates to volunteers at the meeting.
"These programs wouldn't be possible without their assistance," Walton said.
Commissioners asked about program growth and the role of the Margarita Recreation Center; Cross and Gonzales said new contract instructors and facilities enabled more adaptive and specialized classes.
The commission did not take formal action on the presentation; staff said public swim hours continue through October at city facilities.
