Splash! La Mirada Regional Aquatics Center

The inspiration

Splash! grew out of a community wish: a survey in the late 1980s put a public pool near the top of La Mirada residents' wish lists, and the city spent years researching municipal aquatics facilities around the country^1,2 . City leaders concluded that a plain rectangular pool would not serve a diverse community or sustain itself, so they planned a full 18-acre complex that pairs competitive and instructional pools with a pirate-themed water park^1,2 . The project also replaced an aging, too-small county pool at La Mirada Regional Park² .

Who's behind it

The City of La Mirada built and operates the facility, which opened in 2007¹ . Then-Councilman Pete Dames led the vision, traveling through research on municipal pools and water parks across the nation before the city settled on the design^1,2 . A nearby swim club, then known as the Industry Hills Aquatic Club, chipped in a major donation toward the 50-meter competitive pool after losing its own practice pool² .

What to order

• Water slides and lazy river: three two-story slides off a central tower, plus a 500-foot lazy river with spray features along the way .⁴
• Zero-depth entry and splash pads: a shallow pool with a tipping pirate-head bucket and two spray areas built for toddlers and small children .^4,2
• Swim lessons: year-round classes for every age and ability level, from infant-and-caregiver sessions to adult beginner and private lessons .⁵

What people are saying

Mayor Ed Eng has called it a world-class facility where a family can spend a whole day of fun, not just take classes² . City officials credit Buccaneer Bay, with its lazy river, slides and interactive play structure, as the element that made the center a success² . Coverage in the local press describes the complex as looking more like an amusement park or a resort than a public pool¹ .

Why you should try it

If you are staying nearby, Splash! gives you both a serious lap pool and a lazy river in one stop, an unusual combination for Southern California^3,4 . It sits right on La Mirada Boulevard, close to Biola University, so a morning of swim lanes can turn into an afternoon of slides without moving the car^3,1 .