City Of Yuma, AZ
HOME MenuGovernment » Parks & Recreation
Aquatics Programming
The City of Yuma Parks and Recreation Department operates and maintains public swimming pool facilities and two water features for citizen enjoyment.
Swim for Fitness
Lap swimming is a great way to get in shape and stay fit.
August 2025 - March 2026
August 4, 2025 – March 27, 2026 (5:30 am – 1 pm)
Days: Monday - Friday
Location: Valley Aquatic Center
Ages: 14 and up
Monthly Fee: $53; $35 with City resident credit
Daily Fee: $4.00
Payment Options: Daily Drop-In Cash On-Site (no credit cards); Monthly Passes by Phone, Online, or In Person at City Hall.
Water Aerobics
An energetic “no” impact water aerobics workout that allows participants to exercise at their own pace. This class is geared to strengthen muscles, build endurance, increase the efficiency of your cardiovascular system, and increase flexibility.
August 2025 - March 2026
Date: August 4, 2025 – March 27, 2026
Days: Monday – Friday
Time: 8:00 am – 9:00 am
Location: Valley Aquatic Center
Ages: 14 and up
Monthly Fee: $53; $35 with City resident credit
Daily Fee: $5; $4 with City resident credit
Payment Options: Daily Drop-In Cash On-Site (no credit cards); Monthly Passes by Phone, Online, or In Person at City Hall.
AquaForce
AquaForce Swimming is a year round competitive swim team affiliated with USA Swimming. Our athletes are trained by certified coaches with a low swimmer to coach ratio in a setting that promotes a healthy competitive environment and a pathway for your swimmer to enjoy the sport at any level, including national competitive swimming. Swimmers are instructed to improve and refine technical swimming skills, physical conditioning, health and nutrition, and mental strength, while teaching a love of the sport for lifelong swimming success. Athletes have the opportunity to compete throughout Arizona, surrounding states, and beyond.
For more information, contact Amy Dusek @ 928-257-0797; or by visiting this site
Yuma Heat Swim Team
Yuma Heat Swim Club, winner of the 2019-2020 “Yuma Sun's Favorite Place for Swimming Lessons" and led by Yuma native and Yuma High/Yuma Heat swimming record holder, Myriah VanBuskirk, who wants you to join the fun, even during the fall, winter, and spring! Don't worry, the pool is heated in the fall and winter months! Yuma Heat's Year Round Swim Program is a great way to exercise, learn how to swim different strokes and be introduced to the world of swimming. If your swimmer can swim 25 yards across a pool, we are ready to improve their swimming ability and get them comfortable in the water. We host competitive swim meets, right here in Yuma, so our swimmers can experience swim meets without having to travel while learning the importance of teamwork and sportsmanship. New swimmers are welcome at any time! We also have a Learn to Swim program for little ones who are just learning how to swim. Professional coaching, great people, fun in the water...what are you waiting for?!?!
For more information text Coach Myriah at 928-446-1362 or email myfrab0808@gmail.com or reach out to Shannon Rouff (Board President) at 928-581-5288 or shannon.rouff@gmail.com.
You can also register online by visiting this site. Please follow us on our Facebook page "Yuma Aquatics" and/or our Instagram page @heatswims for updates on our upcoming summer programming!
Yuma Aqua Academy
Home of The Yuma Krakens Swim Team
Overview
Yuma Aqua Academy provides an inclusive, safe, and positive environment for Yuma’s youth through swimming. We welcome swimmers from different backgrounds such as public school students, homeschool students, neurodiverse, and bilingual swimmers.
We offer:
- Private lessons to children on the Autism spectrum
- A year-round swim team - The Yuma Krakens (ages 5-18).
- Group lessons for children, starting at 3 years old (4 students per instructor)
- Parent & Child classes from 6 months-2 years old.
We enable our athletes to strive for excellence and achieve their best results physically, mentally, and emotionally in a sport they can enjoy their entire lives. Our coaches, swim instructors, and swimmers inspire a positive culture that encourages and takes pride in each other at all levels of ability and competition. We have a zero tolerance policy for bullying.
Through our Learn to Swim program we teach children water safety to avoid drownings. The Krakens Swim Team’s goal is to keep our swimmers active and be healthy year round. We are Autism Swim certified to meet the needs of our neurodiverse community as well.
Contact us via phone call or text for more information: (928) 224-2842
Visit our website to learn more and register for our programs: Click Here!
Sean & Laiza Smith, Owners
The Open Swim program is now closed for the season. We look forward to welcoming you back on Memorial Day weekend 2026.
- Carver Pool - 1250 W. 5th Street (5th Street and 13th Avenue)
- Carver Pool is 25 yards by 30 feet
Marcus Pool - 545 W. 5th Street (5th Street and 5th Avenue)
- Marcus Pool is 25 meters by 25 yards with an 800 square foot leisure pool.
Valley Aquatic Center - 4381 W. 18th Street
- The competition pool is 25 yards by 110 feet and the leisure pool is 5,972 square feet.
- Carver Pool is 25 yards by 30 feet
Water features may be found at the following locations:
CARVER PARK - 5th Street and 13th Avenue (1250 West 5th St)
Open during the spring/summer months (April – October)
FRIENDSHIP PARK - Avenue A and 34th Drive (Under the water tower)
Open during the spring/summer months (April – October)
Pool Rental is available during Summer Months only.
Summer months include:
May (Memorial Day weekend ONLY), June, July, Saturdays and Sundays in August.
Valley Aquatic Center, Carver Pool and Marcus Pools are all available for rental throughout the summer. The Valley Aquatic Center even has its own party room named "The Aquarium Room," with ocean-themed décor. For information about rates and availability, please contact the PARKS & RECREATION OFFICE or parksandrec@yumaaz.gov, 928-373-5200 for questions.
Special note:
Beyond July 27th, Aquarium Room rental is the ONLY private rental, as lifeguarding staff have returned to high school and college.
When you're ready to reserve a pool for your event, simply fill out a pool request form and e-mail it to parksandrec@yumaaz.gov, fax it to 877-782-2584 or hand-deliver it to the Parks and Recreation office at Yuma City Hall.
*Reservation requests will not be accepted until January 1st of the given calendar year.
GROUP LESSONS ARE OFFERED SEASONALLY.
- Swim lesson participants may sign up for only one session at a time, but may register for any session during the summer.
- Participants must successfully complete all requirements for one level before entering the next level. Participants who are currently enrolled and wish to register for another session of swim instruction, may do so on the Wednesday before the last day of the session that you are enrolled in at the time.
- Registration, transfers and waiting list transactions may be done in person at the Parks and Recreation Office or by telephone. (Visa, Discover, American Express and MasterCard accepted)
- No one will automatically be placed on a waiting list. Parents must request to be put on a waiting list through the Parks and Recreation Office. Wait list participants will be notified if vacancies become available on a first come, first serve basis. Refunds will not be made for participants. However, funds may be transferred to another swim lesson session.
- Availability of upcoming classes is not guaranteed. Classes are based on availability; registration is ongoing throughout the summer. (If slot is available)
- Classes without a minimum of six may be combined with other classes or canceled.
SWIM LESSONS ARE OFFERED SEASONALLY.
Parent and Tot Aquatics
Guppy- Infant and Turtle- Toddler
These two levels of aquatic exploration are designed to familiarize young children beginning at age 6 - 36 months with the water and prepare them for transition into Preschool or Level Swim courses. Children in these courses are not intended to exit as good swimmers or be able to survive in the water by themselves. Parents will learn safe and effective techniques to help their children become comfortable in the water.
|
Skill |
|
Holding & Support
|
|
Working w/ Child
|
|
Adjustment, Entry, & Exit
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Changing Direction
|
|
Swimming
|
|
Skill |
|
Holding & Support
|
|
Adjustment, Entry, & Exit
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Changing Direction
|
|
Swimming
|
Starfish- Preschool Aquatics
3 - 5 years. Onsite Adult supervision is required for children aged 3. Emphasis will be on learning basic skills, holding breath, and floating. Infant Toddler and Preschool classes intend to develop in young children a high comfort level in and around the water and a readiness to swim. These courses do not teach children to be accomplished swimmers or to survive in the water.
|
Skill |
|
Water Entry & Exit
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Changing Direction
|
|
Swimming
|
Duck- Level 1 Water Exploration
In this level, students will learn basic water skills to help participants feel comfortable in the water. Participants start developing positive attitudes, good swimming habits, and safe practices in and around the water
|
Skill |
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Changing Direction & Position
|
|
Swimming
|
|
Treading
|
Otter- Level 2 Primary Skills
This level is designed to give the participants success with primary skills. This level marks the beginning of true locomotion skills and further development of arm and leg actions on the front and back to serve as the foundation for future strokes.
|
Skill |
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Swimming
|
|
Changing Direction & Position
|
|
Treading
|
Dolphin- Level 3 Stroke Readiness
The objective in this level is to build on previously learned skills by providing additional guided practice.
|
Skill |
|
Buoyancy
|
|
Kicking
|
|
Swimming (w/ appropriate glides)
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Treading
|
|
Diving
|
Shark- Level 4 Stroke Development
This level is designed to develop the participants’ confidence in the strokes learned this far and to improve other aquatic skills. Level 4 works toward improving skills and increasing endurance by swimming familiar strokes for greater distances.
|
Skill |
|
Kicking
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Swimming (w/ appropriate glides)
|
|
Changing Direction & Position
|
|
Treading
|
|
Diving
|
Marlin- Level 5 Stroke Refinement
This level is designed to achieve coordination and refinement of strokes.
|
Skill |
|
Swimming (w/ appropriate glides)
|
|
Changing Direction & Position
|
|
Breathing Control
|
|
Treading
|
|
Diving
|
Killer Whale- Level 6 Stroke Proficiency
This level is designed to develop stroke proficiency to ensure an overall understanding and coordination of all strokes and aquatic skills.
|
Skill |
|
Swimming (w/ appropriate glides)
|
|
Block Starts
|
|
Diving
|
|
Tread
|
|
Entry w/ Guard Tube
|
|
Exit Assesment
|
Lifeguard Opportunities with Team Yuma
Click here to apply.
Please Note:
The City of Yuma typically offers lifeguard certification courses late winter and spring annually. If you are not currently certified, you will need to complete your certification through an external American Red Cross training provider before applying.
Questions? Send us an E-mail!
Amanda Gonzalez, Recreation Program Supervisor
Amanda.Gonzalez@YumaAZ.Gov
Taylor Poole, Recreation Program Coordinator
Taylor.Poole@YumaAZ.Gov