West Mesa Aquatic Center Celebrates 25th Anniversary — City of Albuquerque

June 1, 2023

The Parks and Recreation Department (PRD) announced the re-opening of the West Mesa Aquatics Center (WMAC) for the 2023 Summer season after numerous facility upgrades and renovations completed for the facility's 25th anniversary. In 2022, PRD received $3 million in City bond funds for improvements to WMAC and immediately went to work to complete a slew of projects in time for the 25th anniversary.

"Welcome back to West Mesa Aquatic Center, Albuquerque. Come on in, the water feels great," said PRD Director Dave Simon. "The public will love all the fixes and upgrades we have completed."

PRD has already completed 25 separate projects to refurbish and upgrade WMAC at a total cost of $1.8 million. Highlights of the completed work: new indoor and outdoor water play features (including a new "HydroHub" play feature in the outdoor pool); outdoor pool replaster and deck replacement; indoor and outdoor pool slide refurbishment; new LCD scoreboard and timing system; refurbished starting blocks; resurfaced indoor pool deck and Olympic pool restroom; new ADA chair lifts; new outdoor shade structures and deck furniture; training/community room remodel; repainted locker rooms; new bottle fillers and hand dryers; new "Thunderdome" floating play feature; repaved south parking lot. For a complete list of renovations, visit the West Mesa Aquatic Center webpage.

Four more projects will be completed in Fall/Winter 2023-2024, following the summer season, including a major HVAC repair/upgrade, sink and water fountain replacements, and landscaping.

The West Mesa Aquatic Center held its grand opening on June 13, 1998. WMAC was the first city pool built since 1979. Late City Councilor Ken Sanchez and other community leaders were strong advocates for the project.

"Our quality-of-life investments in the Westside Mesa Aquatics Center ensure that our residents can enjoy access to modern recreational amenities in this historic facility," "said Mayor Tim Keller. "It is a tribute to the vision of late Councilor Ken Sanchez that WMAC continues to be a staple for the westside community."

WMAC has an indoor Olympic-sized pool, plus both indoor and outdoor pools with play features. The facility hosts recreational swim activities, lap swimming, high school and club swim teams, water polo, swim lessons, and other programs.

The opening of the West Mesa Aquatics Center completes the reopening of all outdoor city pools for the 2023 summer season. For more information and hours of operation, see the summer swim times schedule.