Project Information
- "The beaches of Puerto Rico are a natural attraction that supports the tourism and marine recreation industry but the government has never provided a budget to manage beach activities in a country where more than 60% of the population does not know how to swim. Many of these drowning incidents could have been prevented with lifeguard services at the beaches."
CBS News, 2022
Grantee
San Juan- Puerto Rico YMCA
San Juan- Puerto Rico YMCA
The Maestro Cares Foundation, in partnership with Don Omar and the YMCA, are renovating the Aquatic Center, originally constructed over 40 years ago. The YMCA’s Aquatic Center offers swimming courses, adapted swimming, group exercises, lifeguard certification, and physical therapy for children. In 2024, the aquatic program directly impacted 1,470 young people.
The project will include the remodeling of the semi-Olympic pool and the construction of a new swimming pool that will replace the infant pool and cater to the needs of children and teenagers with varying physical abilities. These upgrades will include the installation of a handicap ramp, which will allow adapted exercises and therapy to be offered to populations with mobility or neurological problems. In 2022, 21% of the people who benefitted from the aquatic programming belonged to the population with functional diversity.
Additionally, the project will incorporate the modernization of equipment and the remodeling of the service building in compliance with the current ADA law. This includes updating bathrooms, changing rooms, and conducting reparations to the main pool, which will remain open throughout the project to avoid an interruption in services. The updates will also include the mechanical and electrical systems and security gates.
This initiative will benefit 2,000 children and families from the local community.
Project Start
October 15, 2024
Project End
December 31, 2025