Swim Classes Las Cruces | Adult & Kids Programs

Las Cruces residents looking for a break from the 100-degree heat are finding more than just a cool-down at the city's three public pools. Enrollment in adult swim classes at the Lehman Aquatic Center on South Main Street jumped 40 percent this summer compared to last year, according to city parks and recreation data released last week.

The spike comes as national health surveys show that nearly one in three U.S. adults over 50 reports joint pain that limits exercise. Water-based workouts-lap swimming, aqua Zumba, and deep-water running-offer a high-resistance, low-impact alternative. In Las Cruces, where temperatures hit 102 on July 9, moving the workout indoors to a pool makes practical sense for more people each season.

From lap lanes to toddler pools

Lehman Aquatic Center, located at 1505 S. Main St., runs a six-lane, 25-yard lap pool that stays open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily through August 31. The facility also offers a shallow-water aerobics class for seniors every Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. Cost is $4 per session, or a monthly pass for $30. Across town, the East Mesa Pool at 1070 N. Sonoma Ranch Blvd. hosts family swim nights on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. for $2 per person. The Las Cruces Swim Club, a nonprofit founded in 1985, practices at the East Mesa Pool each weekday morning and provides scholarships for low-income youth ages 6 to 18.

The city's newest facility, the NMSU Aquatic Center on Frenger Street, opened a dedicated therapy pool in April 2026, a shallow warm-water tank designed for arthritis patients and postnatal recovery. The university's kinesiology department runs a free joint-mobility assessment there on the first Saturday of each month.

Why water works in the desert

Local public health data underscores the need. A 2025 Doña Ana County wellness survey found that 28 percent of adults reported no weekly physical activity. Among those who were active, walking and swimming were the top two reported activities. Swimmers cited temperature control-air temperatures inside aquatic centers stay around 82 degrees-and the forgiving impact on knees and hips as key reasons they stuck with the routine.

Michele Torres, the city's aquatics coordinator, said the program's busiest months are June through August, when Lehman alone records more than 1,200 swim visits per week. Torress said the department is now working on a pilot program to offer free water-fitness classes for low-income seniors at the East Mesa Pool starting in October, pending city council approval this fall.

For those who prefer not to swim laps, the Lehman pool deck hosts a weekly "Walk the Lane" event each Wednesday at 7 a.m., where participants walk the length of the shallow end while holding a floating dumbbell. It costs $3 and requires no prior experience. Sessions are limited to 20 participants; sign-up opens online every Monday at cityoflascruces.gov/aquatics.

The city recommends checking the aquatic center web page for holiday closures and schedule changes. Anyone starting a new exercise program should check with a doctor before diving in.