Santa Maria floats ideas to offer summer swimming during Aquatic Center closure

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The City of Santa Maria's Parks and Recreation Department is trying to arrange public access at other swimming pools as it considers closing its Paul Nelson Aquatic Center until the spring of 2021.

The Aquatic Center is closed due the health restrictions associated with the Coronavirus Pandemic. City officials who are already dealing with a multi-million dollar budget deficit, also project budget revenues will fall by a staggering $10.8 million over the next two years as local businesses struggle to survive closures and restrictions due to COVID-19.

City officials report a local swim club has offered to take over operations of the Aquatic Center to save money and allow the facility to open under certain restrictions during the warm summer months. However, Parks and Recreation Director Alex Posada said the club's offer does not take into consideration about $382,000 in fixed expenses to keep the facility operating including the costs to heat and sanitize the pool, the locker rooms, showers and the restrooms.

City officials are considering postponing the opening of the Aquatic Center for a year to save money by not heating the pool, strongly reducing the use of the electric pumps, and lowering the amount of the water cleaning agents.  Those cost savings plus reductions in legal obligations could add up to nearly $400,000. 

Posada believes if the Department's pool closure proposal is rejected, budget cuts will have to be found in other places including to youth programs such as the summer and school year Safe and Strong activities at local parks, teen programming that has been expanded over the past 24 months to deal with issues of youth violence, and to efforts to keep parks safe, clean, and functional.

“City residents have more than 50 years of positive experiences at the Paul Nelson Aquatics Center,” Posada said. “Many residents learned to swim, had their first pool party, or worked as a lifeguard at the pool all due to the City’s commitment to water safety and education.  The City plans to find alternative locations over the summer months to offer those programs and services that are permitted under the current and future health orders.  We look forward to providing access to lap swim, water exercise classes, fun water activities, and swim lessons, all under the valiance of American Red Cross certified Lifeguards and classes taught by American Red Cross certified Water Safety Instructors.”