(Washington, DC) On Saturday February 12, Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Deputy Mayor for Children, Youth, Family and Elders Neil Albert, and Councilmember Adrian Fenty will celebrate the opening of the new Takoma Aquatic and Community Center in Ward 4. The Takoma Aquatic and Community Center at 3rd and Van Burn Streets, NW will open its doors beginning at 11 am.

The facility seats 500 spectators, with a balcony and bleacher seating overlooking the pools.  The center is the only facility in the District of Columbia large and well-equipped enough to host conference swimming and diving championships.

The facility's innovative design includes moveable bulkheads that allow staff to configure the pools so that instruction, recreational and fitness swimming, and team practice can take place simultaneously.

Above the 600,000-gallon diving well are diving towers of 1, 3, 5, 7.5 and 10 meters, in addition to two 1-meter and one 3-meter, diving boards. A bubbling device at the bottom of the well softens the landings for divers in training.

The Aquatic Center boasts a two-story atrium where banners one day will hang, a classroom and six offices, four locker rooms, a computer room, and a fitness center and weight room

The total cost for the aquatic center was approximately $16 million.

“I am very excited to be part of such a magnificent gift to the Takoma community,” commented Mayor Anthony Williams. “This facility is a shining example of what collaboration among the city, private sector and the community can achieve.”

PRESS CONFERENCE

WHAT: Takoma Aquatic and Community Center Grand Opening

WHO:  Mayor Anthony Williams; Deputy Mayor Neil Albert,  
     Children, Youth, Family and Elders; Councilmember
     Adrian Fenty, Ward 4; Interim Director Neil Stanley

WHEN: Saturday February 12, 2005 at noon