The pools have been closed for renovations. They’re scheduled to reopen Nov. 27.

CLEARWATER – The pools at Clearwater’s Long Center are now more bright and beautiful than ever after undergoing a $1 million renovation, city officials said.

Upgrades to the pools include new deck and tiling, resurfacing of the pools, new lighting, and pump room/mechanical upgrades. Visitors can now expect a brand new look at a state-of-the-art facility when the aquatic facility reopens Nov. 27. The Long Center is at 1501 N Belcher Road.

The renovation of the pools is not only important to members and athletes who use the pools to train and for competition, but they also are used to teach young people of all ages life-saving swim lessons. All beginning swim lessons are only $10 per session because the city believes that cost should not be a barrier when it comes to drowning prevention. Participants are placed in
groups of no more than four, and taught by some of the best instructors in the area. Since opening in 1990, the Long Center has provided more than 29,000 swim lessons and expects to continue teaching even more once the pools reopen.

Since opening in 1990, the 150,000-square-foot Long Center has defined “unique” in the many different services, programs and activities offered at the facility. The Long Center was created by private citizens with a mission to provide a centrally located recreational and educational facility to Clearwater. For more than 25 years, the Long Center has gone above and beyond in fulfilling its mission. In 2012, the center was gifted to the city of Clearwater by the Long Center Foundation.

The Long Center campus is also home to Clearwater for Youth, Clearwater Aquatic Team, the Aging Well Center and ARC Tampa Bay. Each of these organizations plays an important role in Clearwater and surrounding communities.

* Clearwater For Youth
Now in its 50th year, Clearwater For Youth’s mission is to help ensure “no child is turned away” due to financial concerns and to elevate youth sports by offering support through scholarships and grants to constructive sports programs where children from all levels of society can play together and learn together. The organization has provided millions of dollars in grants and scholarships, serving more than 4,000 boys and girls.

* Clearwater Aquatic Team
The Clearwater Aquatic Team is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bettering the community through swimming. CAT operates under the support of the Amateur Athletic Union, USA Swimming, Florida Swimming and US Masters Swimming. CAT’s goal is to offer anyone in the community with a program that meets their individual goals and needs, providing world class training for high level athletes.

* Aging Well Center
Clearwater’s Again Well Center is a place where people 55-years of age and older can maximize their mental and physical abilities. Since opening in 2010, the center continues to find new ways to promote strong bodies and active minds in seniors all over Pinellas County.

The center has started hosting evidence-based programs that offer proven ways through defined research to promote wellness and manage or reduce health concerns and/or falls.

* ARC Tampa Bay
Founded in 1958, the ARC Tampa Bay provides educational, employment and recreational programs for hundreds of intellectually/developmentally disabled adults. The organization has access to more than 75,000-square-feet of office and program space on the Long Center’s campus.

For information about the Long Center, go to MyClearwaterParks.com.

Clearwater | Long Center | Swimming Pools | Swimming | Things to Do | Sports | Recreation | Tampabay News

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