Just in time for summer, the new aquatics center at Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center is ready for wet and wonderful fun in the sun.
Featuring a 10-lane competition pool, splash pad and activity pool, The J’s aquatics center has something for everyone. It’s been designed as a destination, not just for swimmers, but for families and guests who want to gather and play in a country club-style atmosphere, too.
According to Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix President and CEO Stuart Wachs, when The J had to shut down its pool in March 2015 for repairs, a decision was made to go all out and revamp not just the pool, but the whole aquatics program.
“As we were looking to rebuild, we decided to take that opportunity to build an even better gem for our community, something that would become a destination for members, non-members, families, singles, people who just want to be with friends and be part of a community,” says Wachs. “With much more of a club atmosphere, we’re excited and confident that this will be a place that people of all ages and interests, even if they don’t swim, will want to come and commune as part of the community.”
The renovated main pool is 25 yards long and features 10 lanes for competitions and swim classes. It will be home to the new J Swim Club – a year-round competitive swim team for ages 5-18. The team is affiliated with USA Swimming and is part of the Arizona Swimming local swim committee. The pool will also be used for J Water Polo, slated to start later this summer. Members are welcome to swim laps or just play around in the pool, too.
Aquatics Director Debbie Meek says that the smaller, 4-foot-deep activity pool will be kept at 86 degrees, slightly warmer than the main pool, to provide a comfortable temperature for infants and younger children learning to swim, rehabilitation conditioning with personal trainers and senior aqua-aerobics classes. A built-in volleyball net and anchored basketball hoops at either end provide a fun space for aqua-sports.
The 2,500-square-foot splash pad is outfitted with state-of-the-art amenities for kids of all ages, from toddlers to teens. And parents can keep an eye on children splashing around from the sidelines.
It’s almost impossible to live in the Valley without learning to swim. So J Swim Academy offers tiered swim lessons based on age and ability from 6 months through 12 years. “Our goal is to teach someone to swim, so they can use it for life,” says Meek, starting with floating and water safety and moving up through the four strokes used for competitive swimming. As soon as a student masters the skills for one level, they can move up at their next lesson; no waiting for a whole class to catch up. There are also adult classes for both beginners and experienced swimmers 13 years and older. Private lessons are available, too.
For swimmers over the age of 19 who are serious about improving their fitness through swimming, there’s a J Masters program. “We call it 19 years to 99. It is for anybody who wants to better their swimming,” says Meek. J Masters provides organized workouts for all levels of adult swimmers – fitness, triathlete, competitive and non-competitive.
For up-to-date details about The J’s aquatics center amenities, programs and schedules, visit vosjcc.org/aquatics, call 480-481-7035 or email [email protected].
