City proposes plan for public use of Paloma pool

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The City of Menifee does not have a public swimming pool, but plans are underway to give residents access to one or more existing pools in the near future.

The City is in talks with Perris Union High School District about a partnership in which residents could use at least one of the pools recently built at the three local high schools, said Jonathan Nicks, deputy city manager.

“The City is exploring multiple options, including a partnership with Perris Union High School District to use their pools outside of school hours, including summer breaks,” Nicks said. “The school district has three pools between the three high schools in the area and the proposed plan is to start with the recently constructed Paloma Valley Aquatics Center and expand from there.

“There are also a few developments on the horizon with plans for large parks that may have the capacity to build a community pool.”

The City’s Master Parks Plan update, which was presented to the City Council last week, shows that Menifee ranks below average in the number of public swimming pools and multi-purpose fields. That information comes from the National Recreation and Park Association. Nicks said that the City is constantly seeking ways of adding amenities.

“The City is continuing to exceed the National Recreation and Park Association average in several categories, including playgrounds, walking paths, picnic areas, restrooms, and diamond fields,” Nicks said. “We are very close to meeting the average in a few other categories and are striving to meet those levels of service during this next 10-year cycle of the newly adopted Parks Master Plan.

“The City is also continuing to explore opportunities outside of new developments to provide parks through infill projects, such as the recently announced Sun City Park adjacent to the Faith Lutheran Church on Portsmouth Drive.”

In updating its Master Parks Plan, the City conducted a survey to find out what recreational amenities were most desired by residents. At the top of the list was an aquatics center. Other most desired amenities were splash pads, more pickleball courts and shade structures, and better trail connectivity.

Banner Park, being constructed by Pulte Homes in northeast Menifee, will be the first park in the city to have a splash pad. Original plans for Central Park included a splash pad, but that was removed during a revision prior to the park’s construction.

Fifteen parks have been added to the City since the Menifee Trails, Parks, Open Space Recreation Master Plan was adopted in 2016. Nineteen parks are maintained by the City of Menifee and 25 parks by Valley-Wide Recreation and Park District.

As for the public swimming pool … it might come too late to provide relief during the current heat wave, but at least plans are in the process.

”We have been in talks with the City of Menifee about a partnership for the use of our new aquatics facilities,” said Candace Reines, deputy superintendent of PUHSD. “Use of these facilities by the City is most certainly practical from our perspective in that the City would run their programs when the pools are not in use by our school sites, including summer use.”