WEST PALM BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — The new Lake Lytal Aquatic Center in Palm Beach County will start construction on Wednesday at 3645 Lake Lytal Park Drive. The center aims to provide competitive swimming and teaching programs and recreational activities for families. A ground breaking photo opportunity is scheduled for 9 a.m. on Nov. 12 and is limited to media; the county says a news release and photos will follow. However, the event signals the official start of major construction.

The project reshapes the west side of Lake Lytal Park into a swim and recreation hub. The competition pool will measure 70 meters in length while the 13-foot deep dive well will be integrated into the facility through two bulkheads that enable different pool operations. Adjacent features include a 6,975-square-foot aquatic play zone with three slides, interactive water elements, and shaded seating; a 2,048-square-foot concession building serving both the Aquatic Center and YMCA facilities; a 7,445-square-foot support building with restrooms, showers, offices, storage, a birthday room, and training space; and a 1,446-square-foot ticketing and office building. Parking will include 382 paved spaces plus a grass overflow area for about 160 vehicles.

County Parks and Recreation describes the groundbreaking as a photo opportunity only; the event is not open to the public. The county will distribute images through a release statement following the event.

The Lake Lytal replacement has been years in the making. The county presentation shows that $12.15 million from infrastructure surtax funds will be used for pool replacement because the 1975 facility requires maintenance due to its age and needs contemporary facilities. The presentation also notes the pool’s central-park location limited expansion; moving west lets the existing pool stay open during construction and frees space for the broader campus plan. Harvard Jolly was hired as design consultant, and the Board of County Commissioners approved a long-term lease with the YMCA to co-locate a community center and skate park next to the new aquatic complex.

The Parks department issued a distinct announcement which describes the project timeline through three distinct stages starting with tree relocation (Phase 1) followed by site development work for parking and utilities (Phase 2) and ending with Aquatic Center construction (Phase 3). The department says the west side of the park is closed during the project, the existing Aquatic Center remains open during work, and the old pool will be demolished once the new facility opens. The schedule depends on weather conditions and may need to be adjusted.

YMCA of the Palm Beaches describes the Lake Lytal campus as a “collaborative community hub,” built under a 50-year county lease. The YMCA has announced plans to build a 55,000-square-foot community center and an Olympic-style skate park which will be located beside the county aquatic complex while they work on a capital campaign that includes naming rights.

The county materials from before established the partnership schedule which started when the Commission approved YMCA partnership exploration in 2018 and continued until the lease approval on January 12, 2021 when both parties agreed to fund their respective construction projects for the Aquatic Center and community center and skate park.

The official beginning of construction work starts on Wednesday. The county officials will distribute the images through their communication systems following the event. We’ll update when those are available.