Santa Ana opens new aquatic center with $1 youth swim rate

The City of Santa Ana is preparing to open the new Memorial Park Aquatic Center on Saturday, October 31. The facility will start with a phased rollout, with city officials planning to add more programs until the center reaches full service in spring 2027.

The schedule begins with specific time slots for different types of swimming. Residents can use recreation pools, interactive water features, and a water slide during two sessions on Saturdays. The morning session runs from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., while the afternoon session runs from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Minors under 48 inches tall must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during these hours.

Competition pool access is reserved for ages 16 and older on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Those sessions are scheduled from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. A separate low-impact exercise channel for water walking is available to those 16 and older on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The city has set per-session fees based on residency and age. Santa Ana residents pay $3 for adult entry, $2 for senior entry, and $1 for youth entry. Non-residents pay $6, $4, and $2 for the same categories. The programs will operate except on observed holidays and during inclement weather.

The opening coincides with the seasonal closure of four other municipal pools. Facilities at Jerome Park, El Salvador Park, Salgado Park, and Santa Anita Park closed for Labor Day and will not reopen until June 1, 2027. The city is also hiring Red Cross-certified lifeguards for part-time shifts at the new center.