1 |
Beautiful facility |
Thank you! |
2 |
Need to consult the community about classes, times |
Thank you for your comment. Community input is welcomed and sought on a contnuous basis. Staff and the operator are excited to work with neighborhood groups and CBOs on a word-of-mouth promotional effort. The annual citywide aquatics survey was conducted in November 2024. Two aquatics open houses were held in early 2025. The aquatics working group was formed and has met four times in 2025. Visitors are encouraged to offer feedback in the suggestion boxes located at both pools. The Parks and Recreation Commission held a public meetings about the aquatics program most recently in January. City Council has held multiple public meetings about the aquatics program most recently on Feb. 11, Apr. 15, and May 13. |
3 |
Where are nearby residents? Need more outreach – neighborhood groups are happy to help! |
Thank you for your comment. It is hoped that the aquatics working group and engaged community members to identify and coordinate with neighborhood groups on a word-of-mouth effort. In addition, a citywide mailer promoting the pools will be delivered to every Menlo Park household this week. |
4 |
Need more offerings for students in local schools |
Menlo Swim and Sport has partnerships with Beechwood School, Ravenswood City School District, and Menlo Park City School District to promote City pools and make swimming part of their respective summer programs. |
5 |
Hours are too short; pool closes too early in the evening for working adults |
Thank you for your comment. It would be ideal to keep the pool open later in the evenings, and it is hoped that attendance will increase over the summer to support later hours. (Belle Haven Pool is currently open until 7pm weekdays and 5pm weekends) |
6 |
Swim pass should have reciprocity between Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool |
Swim passes are reciprocal and work at both pools. |
7 |
Advertise youth swim more, for example in the City’s activity guide |
Swimming is advertised in the City's activity guide, as well as in City newsletters, on banners, and on flyers and video screens at City facilities. |
8 |
Instructors who speak Spanish |
Menlo Swim and Sport employs instructors who speak Spanish, and is actively seeking more through hiring/training incentives like on-the-jhob training and lifeguard certification classes. |
9 |
The Belle Haven Swim Team has been doing outreach to local schools, churches |
Thank you for your comment. |
10 |
Adjacent communities like Redwood City don’t have pools – do outreach there |
Non-residents are very welcome to visit City of Menlo Park pools. The CIty's primary focus is to encourage Menlo Park residents to use Belle Haven Pool, especially residents who live in the immediate vicinity of the pool. |
11 |
Questions – who is responsible for outreach, the City or the Operator? |
Thank you for your comment. All parties have a role to play in outreach to ensure the pools' success -- City, pool operator and community. |
12 |
Outreach to Kelly Park users (soccer teams, etc.) |
Thank you for the suggestion. |
13 |
Traffic varies by time of day – hard to get here; timing of classes is important |
Thank you for your comment. The operator tries to take the traffic into account when creating swim schedules. |
14 |
Sign on fence, “Public Pool” multilingual |
This has been completed. |
15 |
“Dollar Day” swim event |
Thank you for the suggestion. A flyer with an offer for one free swim at Belle Haven Pool has been mailed to every Menlo Park household and will be delivered the week of June 16-19 |
16 |
Aqua fit class is impactful, add more at reduced price |
Thank you for the suggestion. The operator is currently focused on filling the two classes currently being offered, then expanding to additional classes. |
17 |
Residents in other communities need pool access, including East Palo Alto who also receive BBAF scholarships |
Belle Haven Pool is open to the public and residents of East Palo Alto and other communities are welcomed. |
18 |
Why are there no City Council members present? |
The aquatics working group is intended to be a community-based forum for community members to engage directly with City staff and the aquatics operator. It is not intended as a formal public meeting, and City Councilmembers generally do not attend, in accordance with Brown Act requirements that discussions and/or decisions that involve a quorum of the City Council be made only during a formal, public, noticed meeting. |
19 |
Can’t make people do something they don’t want to do (i.e. come to the pool) – subsidize the pool to encourage participation |
Thank you for your comment. |
20 |
All Menlo Park residents are residents of the City, and Belle Haven neighborhood residents have unique/ different needs |
Thank you for your comment. Yes, the work of the aquatics working group, the upcoming citywide mailer and promotional offer, and the planned word-of-mouth effort are focused on Belle Haven Pool in recognition of the unique needs of Belle Haven neighborhood residents. |
21 |
Partner with schools for outreach |
Menlo Swim and Sport has partnerships with Beechwood School, Ravenswood City School District, and Menlo Park City School District to promote City pools and make swimming part of their respective summer programs. |
22 |
Disappointed that Aquafit paused; please bring it back |
The Aquafit classes will restart on June 17. |
23 |
Traffic from Palo Alto to Belle Haven Pool is hard. Focus on people who live nearby |
Thank you for your comment. The operator tries to take the traffic into account when creating swim schedules.The primary focus of Belle Haven Pool is to serve residents who live nearby. |
24 |
“Reality check” – need to subsidize the pool operations, hours and access |
Thank you for your comment. |
25 |
Gym user: Is price a factor preventing more use? |
A general rule of thumb is that the lower the price, the more use will result. Fee reveues are the primary means of covering the high costs of the aquatics operation, and so the challenge is to find the right balance between keeping fees low and the need to generate revenue to adequately cover operating costs. |
26 |
Need to do footwork to reach low-income residents |
Thank you for your comment. Staff and the operator are excited to work with neighborhood groups and CBOs on a word-of-mouth promotional effort, in addition to a bilingual mailer/ promotional offer and other efforts. |
27 |
Some parents don’t speak English, need other methods |
The City and operator strive to provide marketing materrials in English and Spanish. |
28 |
Send a card or activity guide by mail |
A flyer with a promotional offer for one free swim at Belle Haven Pool has been mailed to every Menlo Park household and should arrive in mailbozes the week of June 16-19 |
29 |
Swimming is time and money; not all have it, Communicate that there are scholarships, low rates |
Thank you for yout comment. Scholarships and hyperlocal discounts are featured aspects of the overall promotional strategy. |
30 |
Swimmers often grow up “in the water” and carry forward as adults, pass it on to children |
Thank you for your comment. Yes, it takes consistent effort over many years to build a community of intergenerational repeat swimmers |
31 |
Belle Haven Swim Team prioritizes getting kids into the water through access, low price, equipment, meet fees |
Thank you for your comment. |
32 |
Survey Belle Haven Pool users about preferred days/times |
Thank you for your comment. The aquatics survey results, combined with attendance data led to focusing on afternoon hours over early morning. |
33 |
Don’t overlook adults |
What is it that adults of the BH are most interesed in? |
34 |
Swimming is part of a swimmer’s life |
Thank you for your comment. Yes, for many swimmers, it is a lifestyle. |
35 |
Word of mouth is important, effective |
Thank you for your comment. It is hoped that the aquatics working group will help lead the way to inspire CBOs and neighborhood groups to engage with a neighborhood word-of-mouth effort. |
36 |
Grassroots community engagement to help people feel like the pool is theirs |
Thank you for your comment. It is hoped that the aquatics working group will help lead the way to inspire CBOs and neighborhood groups to engage with a neighborhood word-of-mouth effort. |
37 |
Can there be evening Aquafit? |
Thank you for the question. The operator is currently focused on filling the two classes currently being offered, then expanding to additional classes such as evening classes. |
38 |
(In Spanish) (Translation) Unclear what is available for seniors. I went to the pool; it was closed due to a breakdown, I had a pass from a different pool, and couldn’t get help/information—it was confusing |
Seniors are welcome to the pool and there are several programs that are tailored to seniors. We apologize for any confusion about the services available, and for the unfortunate mechanical issues that closed the pool a few times during its first summer of operation. The Operator has reached out to this commenter to learn more about their experience at the pool. |
39 |
Discount rate for East Palo Alto residents? |
Aquatic fees are set by the City Council through the Master Fee Schedule. The vast majority of recreational fees only provide discounts to Menlo Park residents. The reason is that only Menlo Park residents pay the local taxes that support the rereational facilities and services. |
40 |
Menlo Park is effectively two communities, but only one can easily access Belle Haven Pool – it was built for them, focus on Belle Haven neighborhood residents |
Yes, the primary focus for Belle Haven Pool is to encourage use by neighborhood residents who live in the immediate vicinity of the pool. |
41 |
All kids love to swim, if given the chance |
Thank you for your comment. |
|
Strategies for increasing attendance |
Response |
42 |
Afterschool swim programs in coordination w/ schools |
Menlo Swim and Sport has partnerships with Beechwood School, Ravenswood City School District, and Menlo Park City School District to promote City pools and make swimming part of their respective summer programs. |
43 |
Repeated, direct outreach to local schools |
Menlo Swim and Sport has partnerships with Beechwood School, Ravenswood City School District, and Menlo Park City School District to promote City pools and make swimming part of their respective summer programs. |
44 |
Social media, local “influencers” as inspiration/examples |
Thank you for the suggestions. It would be helpful to hear ideas about specific people who could serve as "influencers" |
45 |
Special education students – dedicated/special participation times |
Thank you for the suggestion. |
46 |
Analysis of root causes of low attendance; focus groups and surveys? |
The City Council staff report April 15, 2025 included a root cause analysis that identified a number of factors that appears to be affecting attendance, inlcuding but not limited to: It takes time to build a community of repeat users; maintenance issues during the opening summer hindered attendance; configuration of major transportation corridors and location of pool at far edge of the city boundaries result in a somewhat limited audience of users in the immediate vicinity of the pool. |
47 |
There’s no lack of interest or good ideas – now mobilization is needed |
Thank you for your comment. It is hoped that the aquatics working group will help lead the way on a neighborhood word-of-mouth effort. |
48 |
Who is responsible for success? City did a good job building the pool, but is not investing in its ongoing success |
Thank you for your comment. All parties have a role to play in the pool's success -- City, pool operator and community. The City currently contributes over $1 million per year to maintain the pool facilities, and provides advertising and promotional support. |
49 |
Disappointed none of the City Council members are here |
The aquatics working group is intended to be a community-based forum for community members to engage directly with City staff and the aquatics operator. It is not intended as a formal public meeting, and City Councilmembers generally do not attend, in accordance with Brown Act requirements that discussions and/or decisions that involve a quorum of the City Council be made only during a formal, public, noticed meeting. |
50 |
Show up to the City Council meeting, Parks and Recreation Commission meetings |
Thank you for your comment. Meetings of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission are open to the public and public comments are welcomed. |
51 |
Can’t expect any business to run at a loss |
Thank you for your comment. |