McMurtrey Aquatic Center
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Information
The McMurtrey Aquatic Center is a state-of-the-art swimming, diving, and recreational facility for the City of Bakersfield. It is located near Centennial Garden, newly renamed "Rabobank Arena, in downtown Bakersfield. The facility itself is combined with the Bakersfield Ice Sports Center, and has a lard recreation pool as well as a heated Olympic-sized competition pool, with lifeguards on duty during business hours. The facility is regarded as one of the best swimming and diving facilities in Kern County, hosting activities such as aquatic fitness, diving, lap swim, recreation swim, scuba, water polo, and much more. The McMurtrey Aquatic Center openned in June of 2004 to a summer of over 70,000 visits. The facility hosts various local high school swim meets and is used by Bakersfield, California community members for recreational swimming.
Entry is only $3.00 per visit, and if you are resident of Bakersfield, you can purchase a 30 visit pass for only $80.00.
The 8,551 square foot recreation pool, features: zero depth entry, child play features, double water slides, plunge pool, diving boards, water volley ball area, and specially designed interactive wet play equipment. It's also nice to note, the recreation area includes Picnic Areas for public use and party rentals, for a small fee. A snack bar is conveniently located near the picnic area, and well-priced. Lockers, showers, and electrical outlets are also available in the two over-sized locker rooms.
The heated Olympic-sized pool at the Aquatic Center has 9 25-yard lanes, 9 50-meter lanes and a pair of one and three meter diving boards. The pool's shallow end is 3 feet, 6 inches deep and the pool's deep end is 14 feet, 2 inches deep.
News
On Sunday, October 24, 2004, The McMurtrey Aquatic Center made news when four local Olympians, who had trained at the aquatics center, were honored there, with a celebration for acheiving the pinnacale of success in their respective competitions during the 2004 Summer Olympics. The ceremony was hosted by Councilmember Sue Benham and KGET-Channel 17’s Robin Mangarin and Jim Scott. Gabe Woodward, a Stockdale High School graduate, won a bronze medal in the Mens’ 4 x 100 meter relay; Rebecca Giddens, a part-time Kernville resident, won a silver medal in the Womens’ K1 kayak slalom; Larsen Jensen, Garces Memorial High School alumnus, won a silver medal in the 1,500 meter freestyle competitive swim; and Joey Hansen, a Bakersfield High School graduate, won a gold medal in the Mens’ Eight Rowing event.[1]
The aquatics center then got recognition again on April 5, 2006, when Stuary and Misty Rex were presented with the official certificate from the Guinness Book of World Records. March 26 marked the one year anniversary of the couple who held their underwater marriage at the McMurtrey Aquatics Center. Stuart and Misty Rex were informed by the Guiness Book of World Records in November 2005 that their event, with 208 attendees, has set the world record for the largest under water wedding![2]
The McMurtreys
The McMurtrey Aquatic Center was named after the McMurtrey family, a long-time resident of Bakersfield, who funded most of the project. Don McMurtrey, the family spokesperson, son of prominent residents Mac and Stella McMurtrey, and retired "joint"-CEO (with brother Jon McMurtrey) of Southern Auto Supply, stated that "..they want the complex to be a state-of-the-art facility for the community..." The family also has a special interest in providing funds for the equipment that will be needed for school swim competitions and other related activities. The new complex was then appropriately named McMurtrey Aquatic Center.
Gallery
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Olympic-sized Pool
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Recreation Pool
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Lockers
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Restrooms
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McMurtrey Commemorative Plaque
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Don McMurtrey Speaking
Events
Many national events have taken place at, or reference The McMurtrey Aquatic Center. This list represents a selection of those which feature specific references to the aquatics center.
- Four local Olympians, who had trained at the aquatics center, where honored there on October 24, 2004, for acheiving the pinnacale of success in their respective competitions.
- Stuarty and Misty Rex made it into The Guiness Book of World Records, with their March 2005 nuptials at the aquatic center, for the largest underwater wedding ever performed.
References
- ^ "Bakersfield City News". http://www.bakersfieldcity.us. Retrieved October 24.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Guinness World Records comes to Bakersfield". http://www.allbusiness.com. Retrieved April 3.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); External link in|work=|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help)