The grand opening of the new Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard facility near Balboa Pier has been postponed from Memorial Weekend until early 2024 after the city identified its concrete walls did not meet construction specifications.
Additional time is needed to remedy the issues, city officials said in a recent press release.
“Although the delay is regrettable, it is necessary to build an excellent facility that will serve our community for decades,” Newport Beach Mayor Noah Blom said in the press release. “We are working with our contractor and fully expect to resolve these issues, resume construction in the fall and celebrate the opening of a world-class facility next year.”
The 5,400-square-foot space will be for fitness and education classes, rentals, and community meetings in the fall, winter, and spring each year when it is not in use during summers by the Junior Lifeguard program, who will use it for education and training in ocean and water safety.
According to the Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Foundation—a nonprofit that supports the city’s Junior Lifeguard program—more than $2 million in donations was raised for construction of the building.
Combined with another $5.2 million from federal funds, the cost to complete the project is $7.8 million, according to the press release.
The federal funds were granted to the city through the American Rescue Plan Act, which provided financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is unfortunate that the building will not be completed for the 2023 Junior Lifeguard season,” said Chairman of the foundation, Graham Harvey in the press release. “However, we are thankful the city is taking measured steps to provide a quality facility for many generations to come.”
The lifeguard program has about 1,400 participants each summer with about 60 instructors and will continue to use high school pools and local beaches for training this summer, according to its website.
