Carlsbad Parks and Recreation updates: Monroe Street pool rebuild, pickleball courts, trail work and dog-park renovations

Parks and Recreation Director Lancaster and department managers reported project updates, events and maintenance activity to the City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation Commission on June 16.

Monroe Street pool and capital projects

Parks staff reported that construction work at the Monroe Street pool began after the city council awarded the contract in January and that demolition and abatement are complete. The pool will remain closed through the renovation and is expected to reopen in the summer of 2026, staff said. The project will expand the pool footprint to add about 25 to 30 percent more lanes, increase locker-room space, add a few parking stalls, shade structures, sports lighting and a heating system.

Pickleball courts

The department confirmed design and permitting work is underway for four courts at Calavera Hills and four courts at Stagecoach Community Park. Staff said they received a consistency-determination letter in February and expect 90 percent complete construction documents soon. The Stagecoach site will require retaining walls and an ADA-accessible switchback route from the lower parking lot, which staff said increases cost and complexity.

Programming, events and facility maintenance

Recreation Services Manager Ashley Benson described recent summer preparations, including the annual aquatic all-staff training with the Carlsbad Fire Department and the department's volunteer appreciation event on June 1, which Benson said drew "a little over 100" attendees. She reported that the splash pad resurfacing in the week of June 2 is complete; staff used a PVC membrane they said is softer and more slip resistant for children.

Benson said summer programming launched June 9, and the department has seen a roughly $50,000 revenue increase this season, driven in part by higher participation levels and the summer youth basketball league. Benson said, "It's kind of a fun training, but also we do take it seriously," referring to the aquatic all-staff exercises.

Events planned this summer include the Aloha Plunge at the Alga Norte Aquatic Center on July 19, a S'mores and Snores overnight family camping event on Aug. 9'10, and film programming at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park in late summer.

Trails and volunteer work

Staff reported a National Trails Day volunteer event at Kelly Trail on June 7 that drew about 50 volunteers and partners from the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. Work focused on trimming vegetation, removing invasive plants and filling ruts.

Fire mitigation and turf renovation

Park Services Manager Todd Reese said crews and contractors have expended the full $300,000 allocated this fiscal year for fire-mitigation work in urban-interface areas, including pruning, removal of declining trees and weed abatement at Hoss Grove, Woodbine Banks and Batiquitos Drive. "We've expended our full $300,000 for the current year," Reese said. He said the scope focused on canopy pruning and thinning in areas adjacent to residences and streets.

Director Lancaster told the commission the city council will consider the proposed fiscal year 2025'26 budget on June 24, and that the proposed budget includes a one-time additional $300,000 for continued fire mitigation and $75,000 in trail maintenance that was added back after public comment.

Dog park and field maintenance

Staff said Poinsettia Dog Park's large-dog area has been renovated and sodded and will reopen around July 7; at that time the small-dog area will close for the same work. The department also reported seasonal turf renovation windows (core aeration, dethatching, top dressing and fertilizing) on athletic fields, performed on a rotational schedule to minimize disruption.

What the commission did: Commissioners asked clarifying questions about event demand, maintenance cycles and the frequency of fire-mitigation work; staff explained there is a cyclical inventory of street- and interface-adjacent trees and described coordination with the fire marshal's office.

Next steps: Staff said final Monroe Street pool construction and pickleball court documents will advance through plan review, bidding and construction. The commission will have a special July 15 site-tour meeting to visit Alga Norte, Leo Carrillo Ranch, Stagecoach and Poinsettia parks.

Ending note: Staff encouraged commissioners to attend the July 15 site tour and thanked volunteers and staff for summer-launch work.