City of Carlsbad Parks and Recreation staff on Jan. 13 provided project and program updates that include a delayed reopening timeline for Alga Norte Aquatic Center, a City Council contract award for Monroe Street Pool on Jan. 14, construction progress at Stagecoach Community Park and long-range plans for outdoor pickleball courts and Memorial Veterans Memorial Park.

The most immediate operational change affects Alga Norte Aquatic Center. Todd Rees, Parks Services Manager, said work at Alga Norte includes simultaneous replastering of the three pool vessels (the 56-meter competition pool, the 25-meter instructional pool and the hydrotherapy spa) and renovation of locker rooms and family restrooms. Rees said construction began in mid-November under a single closure that will save the city about $275,000 compared with separate closures and “construction is going very, very well.”

City staff and the contractor found some original sidewall and drainage deficiencies once the pools were drained; city staff said those repairs were prudent to complete now. Staff explained that pool plaster requires roughly 28 days of curing after refilling before heating may resume, and that water chemistry work and brushing are required before reopening. For those reasons, staff said Alga Norte’s full reopening is likely to move into early March 2025; the city will provide a construction update after its weekly meeting with the contractor.

Monroe Street Pool, a roughly 42-year-old facility, is scheduled for a major renovation. Staff reported that the city received seven bids for the project and that the City Council agenda on Jan. 14 includes an item to award a construction contract and a construction management agreement. City staff said they may return approximately $1,500,000 of previously appropriated funds; if the contract is awarded as expected, staff forecast pool closure around the end of March to coincide with Alga Norte’s reopening timeframe and to avoid closing both facilities at once.

Stagecoach Community Park’s repurposing of a former maintenance satellite site into a community garden is under construction. The project will deliver approximately 35 raised garden beds modeled on existing community beds at Pine Community Park; staff said construction began in October 2024 and is expected to finish in spring 2025, with a potential ribbon-cutting event around the end of March.

On longer-term projects, staff presented the final approved Memorial Veterans Memorial Park master plan (City Council approval July 2022), noted recent authorization of Ramtek building kits for three park buildings and reported that staff submitted complete design submittals to Community Development for review. Staff also said the city has an agreement with SDG&E to provide, install and maintain electric vehicle charging stations for the park.

Outdoor pickleball courts will be built at Calavera Hills Community Park and Stagecoach Community Park: four courts at each site. Staff said design, permitting and construction are expected through summer 2026; staff has received final plans and submitted a consistency determination application to Community Development to confirm the courts are consistent with the parks’ conditional use permit. Staff noted Stagecoach’s steeper topography will require additional ADA access work and raise costs relative to Calavera Hills.

Staff recognized recent volunteer trail work: about 30 volunteers worked Hidden Valley Trail to trim vegetation and refresh surfaces, and about 18 volunteers built eight berm-style water bars and rebuilt an Arizona crossing on Ranch Avenida Pantera Trail. The department’s 2025 trails volunteer calendar is posted online.

Recreation Services Manager Ashley Benson noted program highlights, including the Holiday at the Rancho event at Leo Carrillo Ranch Historic Park, the inaugural intergenerational holiday bingo hosted by leadership-in-training participants and a beach cleanup by a youth program. Benson said spring program registration opens Feb. 12 and classes begin March 3, with offerings including swim lessons, pickleball, tennis and fitness classes.

Staff invited commissioners to a Stagecoach community garden ribbon cutting and said they would coordinate with City Council members’ calendars when planning a ceremony. Director Lancaster told commissioners that Benson was selected after a nationwide recruitment and “rose to the very top” from more than 100 applicants; staff highlighted Benson’s roughly 10 years of experience with Carlsbad recreation programs.

Why it matters: The timing of pool reopenings affects residents who rely on lap swim, swim instruction and aquatic programming; construction sequencing aims to keep at least one facility open at all times. Design and permitting for new amenities such as pickleball courts and EV chargers will guide parks development through 2026.

Staff said more details will be available after the City Council meeting on Jan. 14 and in the city manager newsletter scheduled for Thursday.