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Aquatics director outlines swim lessons, rising attendance and free swims at Paul Nelson Aquatic Center
Summary
Rudy Gutierrez told the Recreation and Parks Commission that the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center runs swim lessons May–early September, serves roughly 10,000 pool patrons a year with partnerships and scholarships to reduce cost barriers, and produced a 1,600-person dive-in movie night in June.
Rudy Gutierrez, presenting the Recreation and Parks Department’s aquatics report, said the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center runs swim lessons from May through early September and serves about 1,200 lesson participants annually. Fees are $40 for residents and $50 for nonresidents; staff use partnerships with the YMCA, Boys & Girls Club and United Way to reduce financial barriers for larger families.
Gutierrez said public recreational swim runs June through September and that the facility typically draws “2 to 300 swimmers” on busy rec-swim days and about 10,000 pool patrons annually. He highlighted a dive-in movie night on June 13 that attracted about 1,600 attendees and said the facility’s combined deck and pool capacity approaches 2,000.
On lap swim, Gutierrez said lanes are reserved Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; adult lap swim costs $3 for residents and $4 for nonresidents. The city maintains 16 lanes and has recorded 24,867 lap-swim visits since 2024. New aqua-fitness classes have expanded participation, drawing 28–30 people in some classes, he said.
Commissioners pressed staff on camp and lesson enrollment timelines. Gutierrez said swim lessons fill very quickly—“like a Taylor Swift concert,”—and that camps use staff-to-child safety ratios (typically six children per instructor for lessons) to set capacity. Summer splash camps were offered as two one-week sessions of 20 participants each, and a junior lifeguard camp this week has 20 participants.
Gutierrez also described staffing and maintenance arrangements: park staff maintain the Paul Nelson facility and, under agreement with the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District, support and provide lifeguards for some high school pools (Reghetti High School, Santa Maria High School and Pioneer Valley High School). He credited Monique De Leon and senior lifeguards with keeping the facility operational and safe.
On affordability and access, Gutierrez said Rec & Parks accepts rec grants for financial assistance and that the department “99.9999% of the time” approves grant applications, encouraging residents to apply at the admin office.
The presentation closed with a schedule of upcoming free swim days (Aug. 9, Sept. 7, Nov. 1), planned special events (Oct. 17 event and an October “pumpkin plunge”), and an invitation to the public to attend.
