Multi-million dollar bond provides aquatic center for PRHS

After years and years of standing goalies and bad turns, swimmers, water polo players, and divers will be granted the gift of their dreams: a glittering 60,430 gallon pool inside an aquatics complex, which breaks ground April 2, 2018. Due to the generosity of the citizens of the Paso Robles area and the passage of Measure M, Paso Robles Joint Unified School District eagerly anticipates the opening of their state of the art aquatics complex.

 Completion of the new pool is expected in January 2019, just in time for swim and dive season – after this current approaching season. Granted by the Measure M bond that provided $5.7 million specifically towards the aquatics complex, the facility will incorporate an olympic size competition pool, warm up pool with eight lanes, stands, a scoreboard, pool pump and equipment room.

Many in the swimming and district community are thrilled to anticipate swim practices, swim lessons for elementary students, life guarding and pool affiliated jobs, and competition meets such as Junior Olympics, CIF Championships.  Throughout the greater Paso Robles area, 82.61% of registered voters voted for Measure M; 42.43% were not in favor of the bond while 57.57% were in favor.

With the major facility designs already in place, PRJUSD is hoping to solicit an additional $1.5 million in donations through the community to help fully complete this envisioned complex. Additional funds would allow the aquatics complex to  be equipped with a concession stand, team room, coaches’ offices and storage- with an additional $1 million to complete the entire project, costing the entire project an additional $8.2 million

Superintendent Chris Williams, who has led the fundraising and vision of the project, stated that a guiding principle through the district that is frequently used is “every student will have success”. Students are able to dive into the pool of success in not only their sports, but also the knowledge of knowing how to swim and saving lives in life guarding. In regards of raising money and veraciously executing this project, the district has a group of volunteers initiating the complex and its funds through sponsors in order to stay organized and efficient.   

Senior varsity swimmer Gavin Hughes stated that though he will never compete in the PRHS’s new pool as a Bearcat, he is “thrilled that the opportunity is available for future bearcats and for himself as an alumni. The project will be super beneficial to the community and is a long overdue addition to the PRHS campus.”

The aquatic center is included in phase one, as Measure M provides upgrades on all elementary schools and major renovations for Georgia Brown and Bauer Speck. Paso Robles is on the uprise with students beaming athletic talent and the  eagerness of athletes and the community gleams as they wait for their new complex.  With the help of a multi-million dollar bond, local coaches’ and athletes’ dreams have become a reality as  PRHS develops their own aquatic center.