Swim Center
The Pool is currently open
*The Recreation office remains closed.
The fastest way to receive assistance is by emailing: recreation@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
RESERVATIONS TIMES & DATES:
Please note some minor schedule adjustments for Fitness Swim, Family Swim and Water Aerobics starting on Monday, April 19, 2021. Details by program are below and on the green sidebar to the left.
9am - Family Swim & Water Aerobics Lanes | 4pm - Fitness Swim & Masters Lanes |
| Reservation Period | Resident Registration | Non-Resident Registration |
| April 19th - 30th | Tuesday April 13th | Wednesday April 14th |
| May 1st - 16th | Tuesday April 27th | Wednesday April 28th |
| May 17th - 30th* | Tuesday May 11th | Wednesday May 12th |
*The Swim Center will be closed May 31st for Memorial Day
Please see the information below on where to reserve lanes and find instructions on reserving lanes:
- To swim, a lane must be reserved online. There are no drop-ins or in-person reservations.
- The online lane reservation system can be complicated for new users! Please review our Online Registration Instruction page by clicking on the Aquatic tab before making reservations. It is highly encouraged that you log-in and play around with the system to get used to it before reservation day.
- You can reserve online here. Lane reservations can be made by customers 14 years or older.
- There is a very high demand for swim lanes, much more than can be accommodated. Lanes may fill within an hour or two of registration opening.
- If you cannot swim on a day that you have reserved, please cancel your reservation as soon as possible to allow others to take your place. Instructions on how to do this are on the Online Registration Instruction page by clicking on the Aquatic tab and scrolling all the way to the bottom.
- Please scroll down for program information.
Please note:
Information on the steps the Swim Center is taking to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus, plus information on our programs and how to reserve lanes, is available in the Policies Manual which you can read here (updated version as of 2/11/21).
Verification of Residency - Proof of household address may be requested at any time to verify residency. This may be in the form of a utility bill or rental lease.
Cancellation Policy - Lanes can now be cancelled online (no in-person or over phone cancellations) up to 7pm the day before your reservation! You can reserve lanes up until midnight the day of. A 50% processing fee will be applied, the remaining 50% will be applied as a credit to your household. The Online Instructions page has been updated with instructions on how to cancel a lane reservation.
The Swim Center is CLOSED on City Holidays:
Monday, February 15, 2021
Monday, May 31st, 2021
FITNESS SWIM - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
***Update Beginning on Monday, April 19th. Note New Times indicated in BOLD below***
For participants 14 years or older, includes Lap Swim, Water Walking, and Independent Exercise.
Fitness Swim is not for Families or Swim Lessons, please reserve Family Lanes for those activities.
Continually check the online registration page for cancellations or newly released times!
Fitness Swim Times:
Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool:
- Monday-Friday 6am-7:45am* & 8am-3:45pm** & 7pm-7:45pm
- Saturday 7am-7:45am & 11am**-7:45pm
- Sunday 7am- 7:45pm
Activity Pool :
- Monday-Friday 3pm-8:45pm
- Tuesday & Friday 1pm-2:45pm
- Saturday & Sunday 7am-9:45am
For more information on Fitness Swim and Activity Pool lanes, visit the Fitness Swim page
Lanes are reserved on the hour for 45-minute time periods
* Lane 1 Ladder and Lane 1 Stairs ONLY during Masters practice.
** No Fitness Swim on Tuesdays & Fridays 1pm-1:45pm and Saturdays 10am-10:45am due to Water Aerobics in Lap Pool. Fitness Lanes will be added back in at this time if Water Aerobics does not fill within 72 hours of class date.
Fees:
$10 Resident
$12 Non-Resident
MASTERS SWIM TEAM - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
REGISTRATION FOR MASTERS - Only those registered with El Cerrito Aquatic Masters team through USMS can register for Masters. All other swimmers can register with Fitness Swim.
Masters Swim Team Times:
Monday-Friday 6am & 7am
Saturday 8am & 9am
Lanes are reserved on the hour for 45-minute time periods
Fees:
$15 / reservation for Resident
$16 / reservation for Non-Resident
GATOR’S SWIM CLUB - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
At this time, the Gators Swim Club is not doing try-outs or enrolling new members.
NEW! Gators packet and registration for Auto-Debit. Visit www.el-cerrito.org/gators for more information!
Practice Times:
Juniors: 4-4:55pm
Juniors/Seniors: 5-5:55pm
Pre-Team/Stroke Development: 6-6:45pm
Fees:
Juniors & Seniors: $120 Resident / $150 Non-Resident per 4-week session
Pre-Team / Stroke Development: $100 Resident / $125 Non-Resident per 4-week session
Questions? Please email Gators at gswim@ci.el-cerrito.ca.us
Family Swim - (Click for more info)
***Update Beginning on Monday, April 19th. Note New Times indicated in BOLD below***
For Families to enjoy portions of the pool in a safe, physically distanced space.
Family Swim is not for Fitness, please reserve Fitness Lanes for that activity.
Continually check the online registration page for cancellations or newly released times!
Family Swim Times:
Activity Pool
- Saturday & Sunday 10:30am-7:15pm Whole Pool
- Tuesday 1pm-2:45pm Red (Toddler) Only
- Friday 1pm-1:45pm Red (Toddler) Only & 2-2:45pm Red (Toddler) & Purple
- Monday - Friday 3:30pm-7:15pm Red (Toddler) & Purple Areas only
Please note that Family Swim now begins on the hour, Monday through Friday and on the half hour Saturday and Sunday for 45 minute periods.
For more information on Family Swim and the Activity Pool, visit the Family Swim page.
Fees:
$8 Resident for first family member, $6 each additional family member
$10 Non-Resident for first family member, $8 each additional family member
Minimum of 2 family members
Water Aerobics - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
Begins on Tuesday, April 20th. For participants 14 years or older. Water Aerobics is a fun way to improve fitness while enjoying the pool.
Continually check the online registration page for cancellations or newly released times!
Water Aerobics Times:
Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool:
Tuesday & Friday 1-1:45pm
Saturday 10-10:45am
Fees:
$11 Resident
$13 Non-Resident
COVID-19 FAQ - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
Questions related to the re-opening of the pool and new policies
POOL FAQ - (CLICK FOR MORE INFO)
Currently, the Swim Center is NOT able to offer the following programs: Swim Lessons, Splash Park, rECswim, Lifeguard Training, or Parties at the Pool.
Any changes that are made, including any updates to times or health orders, will be updated on this website.
Please keep in mind the City of El Cerrito Offices, including the Community and Swim Center offices, remain closed for the time being.
Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool
On August 18, 2015, in response to an application from El Cerrito Residents and Swim Center Patrons, the El Cerrito City Council voted to rename the Competition Pool the Emery G. Weed III Lap Pool.
Emery Weed was a much loved swim instructor, lifeguard, swim coach, and mentor to thousands of people during his 25 year tenure at the El Cerrito Swim Center. His life, passions, spirit, and philosophy of "Good Health, Love, Peace, Happiness and Prosperity" enriched the lives of so many in El Cerrito and beyond. "Keep coming back, it works!" is the advice Emery gave for a healthy life upon his retirement in 2013. The renaming of the El Cerrito Swim Center’s Competition Pool in Emery’s honor will help ensure that his legacy lives on for years to come and will continue to inspire future generations