SYV Community Aquatics Complex
Connecting Our Community Through Recreation, Competition, & Healthy, Active Living
Connecting Our Community Through Recreation, Competition, & Healthy, Active Living
Santa Ynez Valley has the lowest access to public aquatics programs in Santa Barbara County, creating significant gaps in fitness, wellness, and water safety opportunities.
The new aquatics complex will address these challenges and provide essential services—allowing all residents to participate in safe, beneficial water activities close to home.
Over the next 3 years, the Foundation’s agreement with Santa Ynez Valley Union High School District commits us to these milestones, including raising100% of the funds to build and operate this community treasure.
Leadership
Lisa Palmer, Chair
Kristen Thomsen
Campaign Steering Committee
Bruce Porter – Vice-Chair of Steering Committee
Kyle Abello
Sam Cohen
Judith Dale
Frank Kelsey
Richard Nagler
Tresha Sell
Randy Murphy
Fundraising Counsel
The Kellogg Organization, Inc.
Lisa Palmer, President
Gary Thorne, Vice President
Krista Stuerman, Secretary
Kelly O’Neill, Treasurer
Jake Kalkowski
Dave King
Elysia Lewis
Richard Nagler
Bruce Porter
John Sanchez
Kristen Thomsen
Boys & Girls Club
Buellton Recreation
Club Swim & Water Polo
Cottage Rehab
Santa Barbara County Parks
SY Band of Chumash Indians
SYHS Athletics & Physical Education
SYV Youth Rec
Solvang Parks & Rec
Stuart Gildred YMCA
Tribal Health Clinic
Mayor David Brown
Kami Craig
Laura Drammer
Gary Hall Jr.
Supervisor Joan Hartmann
Ken & Bobbi Hunter
The current design is the culmination of years of stakeholder meetings, design iterations, and budget estimates.
The final design will take advantage of:
The complex also includes restrooms and changing rooms for the community pool and a storage building for the competition pool.
Many parents must drive their kids to practice and competition throughout the county because of the aged, unreliable, and non-regulation play high school pool facilities.
The deteriorated 50-year-old Santa Ynez High School pool is beyond refurbishment and doesn’t meet current disability or sanctioned competition
The community does not have a publicly accessible warm water therapy pool. The majority of local therapy pools are private, costly, and at capacity.
There is a lack of affordable and accessible wellness and fitness activities for our aging residents and underserved neighbors.
PO Box 913
Los Olivos CA 93441
501(c)(3) 47-2264034
SYV High school athletes lack a venue for CIF lead competition. The current pool, built in 1965, has past it’s expected life, with deteriorating equipment and is not regulation size. The 33 meter Competition Pool will address those needs with state-of-the-art Myrtha Pool technology. This was purchased with the help of a wide range of individual and corporate donors. The components have been in storage, awaiting the completion of the Complex.
Swimming is more than just a recreational activity; it’s a vital life skill that can save lives and enhance overall well-being. In our community, investing in learn-to-swim programs offers numerous benefits, from safety to social development. Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death, especially among young children. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of drowning can be significantly reduced when children have access to swimming lessons. By give families access to swim lessons, we empower them with the skills needed to stay safe around water, whether they are at the beach, pool, or even in a bathtub.
Aqua therapy provides a unique, low-impact approach to rehabilitation and wellness, offering significant benefits for people of all ages. Exercising in water, particularly warm water in the Active Living Pool—kept at 89-94 degrees—reduces strain on joints, making it ideal for seniors, veterans, and those recovering from injury or surgery. With a community aquatics complex on the horizon, our goal is to make these restorative benefits accessible to everyone in the Santa Ynez Valley.
Thanks to so many generous community members, we raised nearly $900,000 in donations and pledges in the second half of 2024 —bringing our total raise to over $2.8 million!
2024 also saw construction costs go up – estimates from Myrtha Pools and our construction partners mean our new fundraising goal is $13.7 million. With this new goal, we are actively pursuing both public and private funding to make the aquatics complex a reality.
Our next milestone – raising an additional $3.5 million by July 2025. Together, we can make it happen!
We welcome your inquiries about naming opportunities, including our donor appreciation wall. Please contact Campaign Coordinator Alexis Adler.
Santa Ynez Valley has the lowest access to public aquatics programs in Santa Barbara County, creating significant gaps in fitness, wellness, and water safety opportunities
▪ High school athletes lack a venue for practice and competition
▪ Adults and veterans miss the low-impact exercise critical for rehabilitation
▪ Families, particularly those with young children, are forced to drive distances to the nearest public pool to learn how to swim
▪ Underserved families face barriers in accessing affordable swim programs, leaving their children at risk in aquatic environments – drowning is a leading cause of death for children aged 1-14.
The new aquatics complex will address these challenges and restore essential services—allowing all residents to participate in safe, beneficial water activities close to home.