RECREATION IN SANTA CLARITA GOING ALONG SWIMMINGLY.

Byline: Eugene Tong Staff Writer

SANTA CLARITA - Buoyed by the new Santa Clarita Aquatic Center, participation in city recreation programs increased 51 percent in 2004 over last year, officials said Monday.

Since the $9 million facility opened a year ago and boosted the number of city swimming pools from five to eight, annual attendance total has increased 56 percent - from 135,000 up to October last year to more than 211,000 last month.

Recreational swim totals between May and September swelled from 18,000 in 2003 to more than 52,000 a year later. Also, 35,000 attended swim lessons in the same period 2003, compared to 46,000 earlier this year.

``Those three pools made up the difference,'' recreation Superintendent Susan Andrade-Wax said, referring to the center's 50-meter Olympic-size pool, 25-meter dive pool and a family recreational pool that includes a 160-foot-tall red slide and water play equipment.

Previously, residents choose from five smaller pools scattered throughout local high schools and communities. After the Aquatic Center opened last year, officials waited nervously and wondered if public would show up at a sports facility in the yet-undeveloped city core.

``Our first year was a watch-and-see to see what the public would drive to,'' recreation administrator Pat Hagele said.

``If you were at the Aquatic Center over the summer, there were people in line waiting to get in. ... We're happy to get these numbers and hope it continues to increase every year.''

Meantime, the city is continuing with plans to expand its Sports Complex - including parks for BMX cycling and off-leash dogs, Andrade-Wax said. Infrastructure work such as grading, utilities and road construction will occur in the coming year, while officials are working to prioritize projects slated for the 38 acres near Centre Pointe Parkway and Golden Valley Road.

``It's a hilly site,'' she said. ``It has to be less hilly.''

The city's recreation programs serves the entire Santa Clarita Valley, with some 41 percent of attendees residing outside city limit, officials said.

In 2004, the Aquatic Center hosted U.S. Swimming and Southern Pacific Masters Association swim meets, along with kayaking classes and movie nights around the shallow family pool.

Parks and Recreation also has introduced new classes including golf, fencing, Hawaiian dance, acting and watercolors.

``We just began offering adult soccer,'' Andrade-Wax said. ``We're in our first season, and that's taking off and exploding.''

The city also is offering pee-wee golf. The program is intended to instill basic golf skills and appreciation for those ages 3-5, before they're swept into competitive match play.

``It's a program for them to learn it and enjoy it,'' Andrade-Wax said. ``Sometimes the win can overshadow why we got in it in the first place.''Eugene Tong, [phone]

eugene.tong(at)dailynews.com

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The new Santa Clarita Aquatics Center, which opened last year, has helped generate a spike in attendance for other recreation programs.

David Crane/Staff Photographer