Palmetto Bay and Cutler Bay families will have a new place to learn to swim starting Thursday when the Barbara and Philip Wong Aquatic Center opens at the South Dade YMCA Family Center on SW 134th Street.

It's the facility's first pool. The South Dade YMCA has operated since 2013 without one.

The grand opening celebration runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at 9355 SW 134th St. The center will offer swim lessons, water safety education, open swim, lap swim, aqua fitness classes and a competitive swim team, according to the YMCA of South Florida.

The pool complex includes a lap pool, a shallow entry pool for younger swimmers, a splash-and-change area and an adult relaxation area.

Drowning prevention drives the push

Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 14 in Miami-Dade County, according to the Florida Department of Health. Formal swim lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88%, a figure cited by both the YMCA and Miami-Dade County Parks.

The South Dade YMCA serves more than 18,000 children and adults annually across South Dade, Kendall, Pinecrest and Palmetto Bay. Brandon Fratianni, a member who became a lifeguard at the facility, has been working out there for seven years. He'll now have a pool to guard.

Wong family gift funded the project

The center is named for Barbara and Philip Wong, whose financial gift funded the project. Philip Wong is the founder and head of Deltana, a Florida-based architectural hardware supplier. The YMCA honored the couple at the project's groundbreaking in October.

"We are deeply grateful to all our supporters here, particularly Barbara and Philip Wong, for this opportunity to bring our water safety programs to life in Dade County," YMCA of South Florida CEO Sheryl A. Woods said at the October ceremony.

Membership deals available through July

The YMCA is running a summer membership promotion: join for $6.99 and receive $25 toward sports or swim lessons, valid through July 31. Families can also purchase up to eight swim lessons for $125.

Pool hours have not yet been posted on the YMCA website. Residents can check ymcasouthflorida.org for schedule updates and program registration.

Community calendar

• Thursday, July 23: Barbara and Philip Wong Aquatic Center grand opening, 5-8 p.m., South Dade YMCA Family Center, 9355 SW 134th St.