Santa Ana staff preview Portola splash pad and $29 million Memorial Park aquatic renovation
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Summary
Public works and parks staff told the commission about maintenance work, a council‑approved Portola Park splash pad (targeted for July opening) and progress on the Memorial Park Aquatic Center, described as a roughly $29 million, all‑electric, year‑round facility scheduled for completion in September; staff flagged equipment lead times and funding tradeoffs.
Public works and parks staff updated the Parks, Recreation and Community Services Commission on capital projects and maintenance projects on Jan. 22, focusing on a city‑approved Portola Park splash pad, progress at the Memorial Park Aquatic Center and broader park maintenance work.
George Acevedo, parks services superintendent, summarized maintenance preparedness for storm season, playground repairs across 34 city playgrounds, and support for community events. On capital projects, staff said the City Council approved the construction contract for the Portola Park splash pad; staff reported they completed in‑house sewer and prep work and expect contractors to install the splash‑pad equipment and finish site work so the facility can open by July 2026, pending equipment lead times. "We will have done a lot of the prep work for them, so that they can build this almost 3,000 square foot splash pad, hopefully, in time for this summer," staff said.
The Memorial Park Aquatic Center remains the largest capital undertaking highlighted. Staff described the project as approximately $29,000,000 (all in) and said construction milestones — exterior walls and pool bottom installation — show the project progressing toward a targeted September completion. Staff characterized the new building as all‑electric with solar panels and said they expect to deliver a year‑round aquatic facility unlike the current seasonal pools.
Staff also discussed broader capital considerations: splash‑pad installations require permitting that can trigger restroom and ADA upgrades, which raised cost estimates for some splash‑pad projects to near $2,000,000 when restrooms and equipment shelters are included. Shade structures were also discussed as an expensive but high‑demand item; staff said some vendor quotes exceeded $250,000 and that they are value‑engineering lower‑cost prototypes that could cost roughly $100,000 each in trial builds.
Why it matters: the Portland Park splash pad and the Memorial Park Aquatic Center expand seasonal and year‑round recreation capacity in neighborhoods that lack aquatic amenities; both projects carry capital and ongoing maintenance costs and require coordination across permitting, procurement and budget cycles.
Commissioners asked about schedule, cost containment and equity in siting. Staff said they are exploring alternate locations for a separate neighborhood greening grant (Walnut Street) to avoid jeopardizing grant funding and that they are seeking grants and internal funding strategies to sequence pools and park improvements across the city.
Next steps: staff will continue procurement and construction activities, monitor equipment lead times, and brief commissioners on budget implications and schedules at future meetings.
