Students, faculty and staff who want to watch their end-of-quarter stress float away will be able to take a dip in the newly renovated Recreation Pool at a series of preview events next week.
“The facility will be a great place to relax with friends, play a pickup game of sand volleyball and even study,” said Jeff Heiser, associate director of recreation with Campus Recreation. The volleyball court is new, and Wi-Fi coverage also has been added, on top of expanded opportunities for lap swimming, swim lessons, aqua fitness classes, outdoor yoga classes, and special events and activities.
The university tore out the old pool and replaced it with two pools: a seasonal recreation pool (the deck juts into this pool, sectioning off the diving end) and a year-round competition pool, with solar panels to help heat the latter.
The facility will open to the public on Monday, June 17, and a grand opening will be held in the fall.
For now, UC Davis affiliates are invited to get a sneak peak, free of charge, from 2–5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, June 10-13, with different activities each day:
- Monday, June 10 — The Fruit and Veggie Up! program will be on hand, distributing free produce. Students can also pick up free Scantrons.
- Tuesday, June 11 — Free ice cream and other frozen treats.
- Wednesday, June 12 — Therapy fluffies.
- Thursday, June 13 — Beach party, featuring a watercolor postcard art activity organized by the Craft Center — and s’mores, too!
The $10 million renovation, which began in late 2017, also included an overhaul of the locker rooms, and new gender-inclusive restrooms. “We aim for all students to feel welcomed into our new facility,” Heiser said.
UC Davis students and Campus Recreation members are always admitted free, with family add-on passes available for purchase for the summer season (June 17-Sept. 15). Season and daily passes also are available for non-Campus Recreation members.