On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Pico Rivera officials finally put shovels in the ground for the $39.4 million Smith Park Community & Aquatic Center, officially kicking off construction on a renovated community center and brand new pool campus at Smith Park. The Rosemead Boulevard ceremony pulled in city leaders, elected officials and project partners as crews get ready to transform the long‑closed pool complex. City officials say the revamped campus is expected to host swimming lessons, fitness classes, aquatic therapy, competitive events and year‑round community programming.
In a statement to MyNewsLA, Mayor Gustavo Camacho called the groundbreaking “an investment in the future of Pico Rivera,” saying the center “will become a place where children learn to swim, families gather, seniors stay active, and neighbors come together.” City Manager Steve Carmona added that the project was designed to meet the community’s changing recreational needs while modernizing aging infrastructure, per the same coverage.
What the plans include
According to CEQAnet, the project will renovate the existing community center, demolish the single aging pool and replace it with two pools, including a 25‑meter competition pool and a 25‑meter recreation pool with a zero‑depth entrance. Plans also call for a new pool mechanical building and roughly 4,000 square feet of additional community space. The CEQA record outlines expanded support facilities, new locker and restroom footprints, and accessibility upgrades to bring the site up to current standards.
Money and partners
The $39.4 million price tag pulls together state and county allocations, local funds and potential grants. As detailed by the City of Pico Rivera, state lawmakers secured roughly $8.5 million toward renovations, and local reporting shows Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn allocated $10 million for the pool’s rebuild. The state also put Smith Park on a list of recommended Land and Water Conservation Fund projects, with California State Parks recommending roughly $6 million for deck, spectator and lighting improvements.
Where it sits
The work will take place at Smith Park, with the project record listing the site address as 6016 Rosemead Boulevard near Mines Avenue and placing the campus within walking distance of El Rancho High School and nearby elementary campuses, according to CEQAnet. The filing notes the site is roughly 16.48 acres and frames the upgrades as intended to expand program space for youth, seniors and competitive teams.
Timeline and what’s next
Design and permitting have been in motion for years, with the city contracting architecture and engineering services to move concepts into final plans, and local coverage in 2023 laid out earlier bidding and build steps. Wednesday’s ceremony marks the formal start of construction work, but contemporary coverage of the groundbreaking did not include a firm completion date, and city staff say bidding notices and phasing details will be published as the project moves into demolition and construction.
Residents can track construction updates and posted documents on the City of Pico Rivera project pages and through state grant and permitting notices, where the city and partner agencies plan to publish schedules, bid results and environmental filings as the project advances.
