Our Vision
Meeting the need for a world-class Regional Aquatics Center, and giving swimmers of Jefferson Parish a facility they deserve.
The Hope Haven Aquatics Center is a proposed, national-level pool complex located within the redeveloped Hope Haven site on the west bank of Jefferson Parish. The development of the Aquatics Center is part of the Parish’s larger efforts to redevelop the Hope Haven site, a shuttered facility of the Archdiocese of New Orleans, back into service of the people of Jefferson Parish.
For the 433,000 residents of Jefferson Parish, there is only one public seasonal pool. We can establish a year-round model of excellence for recreation, swim lessons, health and wellness programs for all ages, first responder trainings, swim teams from all around, and host our schools and regional competitions. The flow of possibilities is wide and deep.
We see the opportunity to make the Parish a national competitive swim meet destination in the Gulf South. The Hope Haven campus Aquatics Center has been developed with a vision of hosting local, regional, and national-level swim meets, drawing visitors from across the region, while expanding therapeutic aquatic programming for all ages, creating jobs and workforce opportunities, and supporting the development of life-saving safety skills.
From a regional perspective, the majority of large, regional competitions are concentrated outside Jefferson Parish. As a result, most swim teams and families must travel one to four hours to participate in higher-level meets. From a national perspective, the majority of National-Level Aquatic Competitions are concentrated outside of the Gulf Region.
The Aquatics Center will be the anchor of the redevelopment of the 100-year-old historic Hope Haven campus on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish. The project’s public, private, non-profit partnership model brings together many sectors of the Parish for the common good. With leadership from Jefferson Parish Councilman Deano Bonano and Louisiana State Senator Pat Connick, the Parish is working hand in hand with the Archdiocese of New Orleans, the Jefferson Community Foundation, the YMCA of Greater New Orleans, and the wider community to develop the west side of the Hope Haven campus along Barataria Boulevard.
As of November 2024, the Parish has completed a master site plan, commissioned and received engineered designs for the facility, and obtained construction estimates for the project. The project’s next major step is securing funding, and that is where this plan begins.
A Lifeline for
Water Safety
Louisiana leads the nation in drowning deaths. In a region where living near water is a fact of life, this is unacceptable.
According to the Michael Phelps Foundation, youth drowning rates in ethnically diverse communities are 2-3 times higher than in the general population.
Our vision is a community where all people have access to quality, affordable swim instruction. The Aquatics Center will serve as a nexus for water safety. In partnership with the YMCA of Greater New Orleans, the Aquatics Center will offer swim lessons to people of all ages and skill levels. The YMCA is known as America’s Swim Instructor.
Swimming Changes Lives
By the Numbers
