Temecula staff report higher participation in aquatics and CRC programs; swim lessons, teen programs expand

At a meeting of the Temecula Community Services District Commission, aquatics and Community Recreation Center staff reported sharp year-over-year increases in participation and said they will continue year-round swim instruction alongside a smaller off‑season program schedule.

Tristan Bowe, community services coordinator for aquatics, told commissioners the division recorded “just over 8,000 participants” in September 2025, a 23% increase from about 6,500 in September 2024. He said the department concluded public-swim sessions at the Community Recreation Center (CRC) on Sept. 21 and that the summer public‑swim program “brought in nearly 26,000 participants over the summertime.” Bowe said 421 people registered for swim lessons in September and that the department ran a lifeguard certification course with 14 participants.

The participation growth strained capacity at public swim: commissioners were told the CRC’s public-swim capacity is “around 250 people” on the pool deck. “Once we reach that number of people on the pool deck, we’re no longer able to offer others entry,” Bowe said, explaining that limits reflect lifeguard staffing and safety rules. He said the aquatics division operates three pools: the Margarita Recreation Center pool (a warmer-water, year‑round heated facility averaging about 85 degrees) and the CRC pool (kept near 80 degrees) operate year-round; a third pool at Chaparral High School is used only in summer under a joint-use agreement.

Bowe told the commission the department continues to offer swim lessons through November and provides daily water-exercise classes and lap swim at both the CRC and the Margarita Recreation Center. He said swim lessons continue year-round but shift in format in the off season to more individual or semi-private lessons because of reduced pool space and fewer staff as seasonal employees return to school.

Jessica Walker, community services supervisor at the CRC, reported enrollment growth in other programs. Walker said the CRC’s senior and special-needs morning program runs Monday–Friday and welcomes between 40 and 80 participants daily; the CRC recorded 1,130 participants in that program in September, a 42% increase from the prior year. She said the teen zone added two clubs (craft and culture), the homeschool‑Friday program averages 40–50 teens, and a November volunteer opportunity with Mission of Hope is fully booked with a 20-person limit and a wait list.

Commissioners praised staff training and retention. Director Russo said every aquatic staff member receives a minimum of 40 hours of training and that the department’s seasonal hiring pipeline helps retain high-performing staff year to year. Bowe described recent staff training that included in-water passive rescue drills, extrication, spinal-motion-restriction techniques and CPR.

On facility maintenance, commissioners asked about the Margarita Recreation Center splash pad. Director Russo said parts must be ordered and the splash pad’s tank replaced; staff plan to reopen it in time for spring and are considering reconfiguring the tank above ground to make future maintenance easier, but the work has a “pretty substantial lead time.”

The commission approved the consent calendar minutes from the Sept. 8, 2025 meeting by roll call vote.

Looking ahead, staff noted seasonal program shifts as departments move from peak-summer offerings to fall and winter events while continuing year-round lessons and core programs.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to continue monitoring capacity and retention, and staff said they will return with updates on the splash pad repair timeline and fall program schedules.