Paul Nelson Pool remains closed due to financial impact of COVID-19

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Michael Ashmore with the Santa Maria Swim Club says he doesn’t want to see the Paul Nelson Pool to shut down. "Everybody’s always about youth safety around here. And it seems like we’re discounting the youth safety as it involves aquatics youth and teenagers as well as the adults to exercise there."

Due to the financial impact of COVID-19, the city of Santa Maria is expected to propose to keep the pool closed to save money.

"The Paul Nelson Pool has been closed since January. First the city did an extreme makeover," said Mark van de Kamp with the city of Santa Maria.

When COVID-19 hit, health orders required the city to keep all pools closed.

City leaders are considering how expensive it is to run the facility.

"It’s about $1 million per year to run this pool. It’s a beautiful 50-meter pool. Very popular," said van de Kamp.

Dennis Smitherman with the Santa Maria's Recreation and Parks Department says the pool would reopen in spring 2021. "People are passionate about the Paul Nelson aquatics Center. It’s definitely a hardship when we look at closing the pool."

If the pool remains closed, Smitherman wants the community to know it would only be a temporary measure, and they’re looking into other alternatives.

"We are currently working with partners in the community to have other other sites open for aquatics programming," said Smitherman.

The Santa Maria Swim Club plans to protest at Tuesday’s city council meeting.