For the first time, Paso Robles High School swimmers won’t have to leave campus to practice.
On Friday, March 6, the Paso Robles Joint Unified School District officially opened the Paso Robles Aquatics Center after years of planning, design, and construction. The new 38-meter pool will serve the high school’s swim and dive teams and physical education classes.
“We’ve had swim and dive programs as part of our athletic program for a long time,” said Brad Pawlowski, the district’s assistant superintendent of business services. “We’ve used the city’s municipal pool, so now having that pool on our campus will alleviate our need for the municipal pool for our athletic programs. It’ll also really allow it to expand.”
The idea for an on-campus pool dates back to November 2016, when voters approved Measure M, a general obligation bond that included funding for two swimming pools.
The district initially moved forward with plans for a larger facility. Pawlowski said the original design included a 50-meter pool and a second pool, and the district even purchased the pools ahead of construction.
But in January 2019, the project hit a setback.
“The bids came in over budget,” Pawlowski said. “All the bids were rejected at that time, and we started exploring different options.”
District leaders ultimately decided to scale back the project. The revised design reduced the plan to a single 38-meter pool.
In April 2022, the district hired a new architect to redesign the facility and began seeking construction bids. The school board approved construction in February 2024.
The facility is located on the north side of the high school’s student parking lot, on land previously occupied by portable classrooms.
“This project has been a long time coming, and we are excited to celebrate its completion with our community,” Superintendent Jennifer Loftus said in a press release. “Having a pool on campus reflects the support of our voters and will provide generations of students with new opportunities.”
The new on-campus facility will remove the logistical challenges of getting the swim and dive teams to and from the city’s municipal pool for competition and practices, Pawlowski said.
“The municipal pool served its purpose, but it required a lot of coordination, and maintenance was always a concern,” Pawlowski said. “Now, students will have immediate access to a modern facility that supports athletic programs, PE classes, and learning-to-swim programs.”
The aquatics center includes a smaller, shallow area designed for students learning to swim. Pawlowski said the district hopes to eventually expand access to the community, but the high school students will be the first to use the pool.
“We really just kind of need to figure out how it’s going to operate,” he said, noting the district will evaluate scheduling, program needs, and facility management as the pool begins regular use.
Pawlowski credited both the community and the school board for seeing the project through despite hurdles and redesigns.
“Kudos to our community … and to our school board for prioritizing the aquatics center despite delays and budget challenges,” Pawlowski said.
Fast fact
• San Luis Obispo County Libraries is inviting the community to participate in the 2026 Book of the Year program, a countywide reading initiative now in its 17th year. This year’s book selection is Sacrament by acclaimed California author Susan Straight. The novel’s set during the first year of a pandemic and highlights the experiences and heroism of ICU nurses. Straight, a National Book Foundation finalist and creative writing professor at University of California, Riverside, will speak about the book at a public event on April 28 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Harold J. Miossi Cultural and Performing Arts Center at Cuesta College. The talk will be followed by a book signing, and students can attend for free without advanced registration. The annual program is organized by County of San Luis Obispo Public Libraries, Cuesta College, and the Paso Robles City Library. Copies of Sacrament are available through local libraries. Tickets are available at cuesta.universitytickets.com/w. ∆
Reach Staff Writer Chloë Hodge at chodge@newtimesslo.com.
This article appears in March 12-19, 2026.