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St. Vrain makes waves with new Aquatic Center

The St. Vrain Valley School District, or SVVSD, is starting the new year with a splash as the doors open on a new Aquatic Center attached to Silver Creek High School.
Matt Maenpaa
Matt Maenpaa
SVVSD Aquatic-McBride
SVVSD's new Aquatics Center at Silver Creek High School adds eight lanes of opportunity for the district.Chase McBride/SVVSD

The St. Vrain Valley School District, or SVVSD, is starting the new year with a splash as the doors open on a new Aquatic Center attached to Silver Creek High School.

Opened for practices over winter break, the new aquatic center is hosting meets for competing teams in the district. Wednesday, students from Skyline High School girls swim team took to the lanes against Lafayette’s Centaurus High School, according to SVVSD Director of Athletics Chase McBride.

Longmont High School’s swim team went up against Windsor Thursday afternoon, while Erie High School swam against Greeley West, McBride added. 

“We’ve never had the ability to host a meet with eight lanes, where we’ve had access to the PA system. It was just so much more efficient and the lighting and energy felt really good,” McBride said.

Before the Aquatic Center opened, SVVSD swim programs relied on Centennial Pool in Longmont, Carbon Valley Recreation Center in Frederick and the Ed & Ruth Lehman YMCA in Longmont. Being at the mercy of scheduling and limited lanes in those pools didn’t meet the needs of swimmers and teams in SVVSD, McBride explained.

“This gives an opportunity to have a place where we can conduct all of our home duels at the Aquatic Center. We can have some ownership to it with school and championship banners and make it look like our pool,” McBride said.

The new building is 13,200 square feet, with a 260,000 gallon pool featuring eight lanes, a diving well and seating for up to 120 spectators. 

SVVSD will offer lifeguard training, which opens up opportunities for students, he said, and allow students to earn their certificate and work at the Aquatic Center and other facilities in the district. The Aquatic Center will also offer swim classes and physical therapy for student-athletes at Silver Creek High School and in the district as needed, McBride explained.

Additionally, the facility will be used for SVVSD’s robotics program, hosting a tournament for underwater robotics toward the end of May after the boy’s swim season ends, according to McBride.

“Our district has put an emphasis on creating opportunities for kids and one way we do that is the robotics program,” McBride said. 

A ribbon-cutting was planned for the Aquatic Center on Thursday afternoon but was postponed due to inclement weather considerations.