The City of Walnut Creek announced that work is now underway at Heather Farms Lakes and that big changes are coming to the expanded and improved site — made possible through Measure O.
According to the city, water is being moved, sprinklers installed for wildlife, and even an old dune buggy was uncovered.
The Conceptual Site Plan is the foundational document for the future design of replacing the existing Community Center and Clarke Swim Center at Heather Farm Park into a combined facility. It currently encompasses a 4.7-acre site with a combined community center and aquatic facility with a large indoor gathering space, several multi-purpose rooms and classrooms, outdoor event terraces, a 50-meter lap pool, a recreational pool, a bathhouse, and a mechanical pool building. The total building square footage for the facility is currently estimated to be between 25,000 and 27,000 square feet. The Walnut Creek City Council accepted the original conceptual site plan on February 7, 2023, and a revised version that shows the current design development was accepted by Walnut Creek City Council on April 16, 2024 (depicted below). This plan will continue to be the guiding document for developing more detailed design plans.
The timeline is anticipated to be Summer 2025 through 2027 — Anticipated construction phase. Please view the full timeline for details.
The existing Community Center will be demolished for the new combined facility to be built, while Clarke Swim Center is projected to remain open to the public throughout the construction period. Typical construction hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with weekend work authorized as necessary. Please be advised that some noise is anticipated in connection with the construction and barriers, such as fencing, will be used throughout the project for pedestrian safety.
A new Aquatic and Community Center at Heather Farm Park is currently being designed to replace the existing facilities built in the 1960s. The proposed project will occupy the site where the existing Heather Farm Park Community Center is located. The project is being funded primarily by the Walnut Creek voter-approved Measure O, a ten-year, half-cent sales tax measure.
For more information, visit City of Walnut Creek website.