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Aquatics Program Update (Brian Noce, Recreation and Community Services Supervisor)
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RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Parks and Recreation Commission be updated on the Aquatics Program, including ongoing operations at Orange Pool and the operational readiness for the new Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
The Aquatics Program at Orange Pool continues to serve as a vital community hub, distinguished by a comprehensive, multi-generational service model. The current facility is already a year-round operation providing robust programming, including morning and evening lap swimming, recreational swimming, exercise classes, and a critical Learn-to-Swim curriculum. Operating year-round is nothing new for the Parks and Recreation Department; however, what is new is that the Department will now manage two swimming pools.
As the new Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center's construction nears completion, the focus has shifted to include expanding operations and recruiting more staff to handle the larger facility. The new state-of-the-art complex demands a proportional increase in our workforce to uphold high standards of safety and service over a broader area. The goal is to build a professional, safety-focused team capable of managing the complexities of programming in a dual-pool environment.
Community Impact
Providing affordable water safety education is a cornerstone of the Department's mission, as drowning prevention is a fundamental life skill. Recognizing the significant financial pressures of living in San Mateo County, the City actively works to dismantle economic barriers to these essential programs. A key component of this effort is our pilot partnership with San Mateo County Health through the Recreation Rx program. Under this initiative, staff are offering the San Mateo County Health Clinic, located on Mission Road, the option to refer up to 10 participants to the program at no cost. For eligible residents, this provides vital, barrier-free access to comprehensive swimming lessons and water safety instruction that they might otherwise be unable to afford, ensuring that financial hardship does not compromise personal safety or wellness.
Operational Necessity: Scaling for a Dual-Pool Facility
Transitioning from a single pool to a facility with two separate pools, as one might assume, doubles the daily staffing requirements to maintain safe, efficient operations. Beyond the expanded pool decks, the new Aquatics Center features a significantly larger overall footprint. This increased size necessitates additional staff to ensure comprehensive safety and proper supervision throughout the entire facility, including the lobby, locker rooms, and the activity room. Hosting lap swimming, water aerobics, and swimming lessons at the same time requires separate teams for lifeguarding, instruction, and deck management to handle these simultaneous operations effectively. Higher attendance further requires dedicated front-line staff to manage check-ins and overall facility flow.
Expanded Program Opportunities
To maximize the potential of the new facility, staff are expanding the newly introduced, highly structured swim lesson curriculum. The new curriculum ensures a smoother transition for students moving from one level to the next. The curriculum also introduces upper-level classes that will eventually grow into pre-swim team conditioning and a junior lifeguarding program. This junior lifeguarding component is strategically designed to flow directly into our staff onboarding processes, creating a natural, internal pipeline for future employee recruitment.
With the increased capacity of the dual-pool facility, staff will also offer expanded afternoon swimming lesson hours, allowing the Aquatics Program to better meet the ongoing community demand for water safety education. Furthermore, staff will continue our strong partnership with the co-sponsored South San Francisco Aquatics Club, which provides a clear pathway to connect our recreational swimmers with options for a more competitive aquatic program.
Recruitment Status and Operational Readiness
Hiring is a perennial and ongoing effort. The Aquatics Program has successfully onboarded seven new lifeguards and three swim instructors to address the rising demand. Staff will increase recruitment efforts through May, including targeted social media campaigns, school partnerships, and certification courses. After hiring, the expanded team will undergo a thorough onboarding process tailored to the new facility. As the Department approaches the opening of the new Aquatic Center, a critical component of this readiness strategy is the transition to the StarGuard Elite lifeguarding program. This will streamline staff training through a modern curriculum and offer transparent safety records. Management is developing a specialized transition plan that integrates StarGuard protocols with the unique dual-pool dynamics to ensure the team is fully staffed at capacity and fully trained in emergency response needs before the public opening.
CONCLUSION
Staff looks forward to the opening of the new Orange Memorial Park Aquatic Center and to the continued success of the year-round Aquatics Program. City Council will consider the Department’s budget requests related to operating the new Aquatic Center as part of the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget development process. As part of the typical budget process, any new and revised fees will be presented to the Parks and Recreation Commission prior to City Council adoption. Staff welcomes discussion and feedback from the Commission.