Facility Upgrade Project

July 1, 2026 Update:

Parking lot improvements are complete for the season. Following summer, we will proceed with overlaying the parking lots and finalizing the travel path from the tunnel area.

Plans for the Snack Bar construction have been submitted to the City of Lake Forest and the Orange County Health Department. Our architect, Borders, is currently addressing feedback received from these agencies to provide additional information. We anticipate receiving approval soon, and once proposals are gathered in response to the RFP, the Board will choose a contractor and commence construction after the summer season concludes.

May 21, 2026 Update:

The lap pool and wading pool have reopened following the completion of a major phase of the Association’s facility and accessibility improvement project!

Recent upgrades include renovated pool decks, improved ADA-accessible paths of travel, a new ADA-compliant poolside shower, and an accessible drinking fountain. These improvements enhance safety, accessibility, and the overall experience for residents and guests enjoying the clubhouse and pool areas, and are all open and available for residents.

While the pool facilities are now open, work continues in portions of the parking lot as crews complete required accessibility improvements. Residents are encouraged to use caution in construction areas, follow posted signage, and remain aware of temporary pedestrian reroutes.

May 8, 2026 Update:

The Health Department has approved the Lap Pool work, so we are moving forward with the fiberglass and completing the paver work around the pool. The final inspection is scheduled for the 21st of the month, and we should be good to open the Lap Pool and Wader immediately thereafter. The parking lot work continues, with asphalt patching ongoing. The parking lot work, including the ADA paths of travel, will be completed around June 10th. After summer, the parking lot will be milled and overlayed.

April 29, 2026 Update:

The Diving Pool is open. The Lap Pool, Wading Pool, restrooms, and showers are on track to open mid-to-late May. ADA work in the parking lot is ongoing, with intermittent traffic disruptions. Per Building Code, the City is requiring we add a path of travel from Toledo Lane to the pool deck. We had anticpated this, and had funded the work in the Reserves and Project Fund. However, we had hoped to spread out the work over more time, but the City mandated we bring the facility into compliance during the first phase of the project.

March 31, 2026 Update:

We had hoped to open the Diving Pool on April 1st (no joke!) but we are not quite ready. The contractor needs to seal the pavers, and will work through Thursday, so the Diving Pool will open Friday, April 3rd. We do not yet have a date on opening the Lap Pool, but we are still a few weeks out. Concrete work is ongoing. The crew should finish up the work to path of travel from the Front Desk to the pool deck by the end of the week, and then will move to the parking lot.

March 24, 2026 Update:

During demolition of the concrete surrounding the Diving Pool, our contractor uncovered unforeseen issues, including severely corroded conduit and deteriorated electrical lines. Addressing these conditions was necessary for safety and code compliance and required extensive trenching and rewiring, which delayed inspections by the City and Health Department.

Although the project had been ahead of schedule, these unexpected repairs added several weeks to the overall timeline. As a result, and to reduce the risk of pool closures extending into late spring or summer, the decision was made to close the Lap Pool, Wading Pool, and Diving Pool at the same time. While this was not the original plan, our contractors and project manager determined it was necessary to help meet the goal of reopening as efficiently as possible.

At this stage, the Diving Pool is nearly complete and is on track to reopen the week of March 30. The Dolphins Swim Team is scheduled to begin practices in the Diving Pool on April 6. The Exercise Pool has remained open and continues to be available for all swimmers.

However, reopening of the Lap Pool has been delayed pending Health Department approval of required re-plumbing work to increase pipe diameter. This requirement will push the Lap Pool reopening to mid-April at the earliest.

In addition, the City required significant ADA improvements, including the installation of an accessible entrance to the parking lot, upgraded path of travel, and a compliant emergency exit. This work is currently underway and is expected to take approximately 2–3 months to complete. During this time, there may be intermittent closures of amenities due to construction activities such as concrete demolition, parking lot modifications, and handrail installation. Please see layouts with the ADA work at the bottom of the page.

We understand these disruptions have been inconvenient and sincerely appreciate your patience. Once completed, the improvements—including new pavers, renovated pool surfaces and tile, enhanced drainage, and a new ADA-accessible shower—will significantly improve safety, accessibility, and the overall pool experience.

We will continue to provide updates as work progresses and thank you for your continued understanding and support.

Comprehensive Facility Upgrades: Snack Bar, Pool Deck, ADA Improvements, and Playground Renovations

Outdoor Amenities Remodel: A Streamlined Vision

If you’ve been following updates on the Facility Compliance Upgrade Project, you know it’s been quite a journey. Our original vision was bold—featuring a large new pavilion, a reimagined snack bar, and a relocated playground, all designed to enhance the function and enjoyment of our outdoor spaces.

But as with many construction projects in California, we faced significant hurdles. Complex permitting processes, unforeseen regulatory challenges, and rapidly rising costs forced us to take a step back. A key obstacle was the Irvine Ranch Water District sewer easement that runs beneath our facility. While Los Alisos Water District allowed construction within the easement, but we received the verdict from IRWD in July that they would no longer permit the construction of any structure within the 10-foot zone. This change meant our entire pavilion design, including grading and landscape plans, would need a complete overhaul.

So, we went back to the drawing board—and we’re happy to share that a revised plan is now in place. It’s more fiscally responsible, more achievable, and still focused on delivering meaningful amenity improvements for residents of all ages.

The New Plan: Refresh, Enhance, and Modernize

Snack Bar Remodel with Pavilion Structure Instead of building an entirely new facility, we’ll remodel and expand the existing snack bar. The updated footprint will provide improved service flow and functionality, while a new shade structure in the adjacent area will offer much-needed comfort for poolside guests, with covered seating. The goal is a welcoming, efficient, and attractive space that better serves the community and supports our seasonal snack bar operations, as well as year-round events and functions.

Playground Upgrades in Place After thorough evaluation, we’ve decided to keep the playground in its current location—but with significant improvements. The sand will be replaced with an accessible, low-maintenance surface, and the play structures will be updated with modern, compliant equipment designed for safety, inclusivity, and fun. As our equipment is over 16 years old and needs to be brought into compliance with new regulations, this is a timely improvement. This will likely be scheduled for the second phase of the project, in 2026.

New Pool Decking and Surface Repairs We’ll also be removing our aging “cool deck” surfaces and replacing them with pavers. These will improve both the appearance and functionality of our pool areas, offering better traction, durability, and accessibility. The pavers will be similar to those at the exercise pool, but lighter in color so they remain cooler. At the same time, we have pool resurfacing and repairs scheduled. We have recieved approval from the Health Department and City of Lake Forest, and will begin demo on the existing pool deck on January 12th.

Improved Accessibility Paths Another important piece of this renovation will be the addition of more accessible paths of travel, making it easier for everyone to enjoy the outdoor spaces.

***Fully Funded with Existing Reserves and Project Funds***

The pool deck replacement project and pool repairs are expected to take approximately 3 to 4 months, subject to receiving the necessary inspections in time. We hope to get approval for the Snack Bar renovation during the same time frame, but this is a long process, and might begin after summer 2026. This project is fully funded through existing Reserves and the Project Fund.

We’re excited to move forward, and even more excited to see you enjoying these refreshed amenities this year.

We’ll be sharing updates throughout the process, and we appreciate your continued interest and support.