Aquatics

PLEASE NOTE: The Belle Haven Instructional/Recreational Pool is temporarily closed for circulation pump repairs. Updates on the reopening will be provided as soon as they are available. The Belle Haven Performance Pool will remain open.

The City of Menlo Park's two swim centers, Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool, are operated by local partner Menlo Swim and Sport under contract with the City. Visit Menlo Swim and Sport to enroll in swim lessons, to sign up for spring or summer camps, or to learn more about aquatic programs, pool schedules, recreational swim, lap swim, swim for seniors, masters, youth teams, and rates.

Visit Menlo Swim and Sport

Locations

Belle Haven Pool

100 Terminal Ave.

Menlo Park, CA

Burgess Pool

501 Laurel St.

Menlo Park, CA

Swim camps

The City of Menlo Park, in partnership with Menlo Swim and Sport, hosts swim camps at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool during the summer. Swim camps are a great way for children and youth to strengthen their swimming and water safety skills during the summer months, while having fun! Swim camps are directed by professional staff with experience in promoting high-quality, safe and fun activities. Camp swim instructors receive over 20 hours of swim instructor training. Campers are under constant supervision by the camp leads, counselors, instructors and coaches. For more information about swim camps, visit the Menlo Swim and Sport website.

Swim lessons

Swim lessons are a great way to strengthen swimming and water safety skills. In partnership with Menlo Swim and Sport, the City of Menlo Park offers a wide range of swim lessons for all ages and skill levels. Swim lessons are available for infants as young as 6 months old and adults of all ages. Instructors undergo multiple weeks of training to gain experience working with people of all ages and skill levels.

For the youngest swimmers, Water Babies classes focus on water acclimation with a parent or caretaker in the water. Lessons focus on building water confidence and introducing basic water skills in a safe and nurturing environment. Songs and activities help babies and parents bond while introducing this important life-saving skill.

For children 3 years old and up, classes are available for all skill levels, starting at Level 1 for basic fundamentals such as kicking and floating, and progressing through Level 4, where students graduate from swim school knowing Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, and Butterfly.

For adult swimmers, we understand that everyone has different goals and comfort levels in the water. Whether you’re a beginner looking to overcome your fear of water or an experienced swimmer aiming to improve your technique, our instructors will guide you every step of the way.

Whether you’re just starting your swim journey or looking to take your skills to the next level, swim lessons are available to support and encourage you.

Learn more about swim lessons

Swim scholarships

Menlo Swim & Sport is proud to partner with the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation (BBAF) to offer scholarships to those financially in need who want to develop a lifelong love for swimming. Swim scholarships are available for youth swim lessons at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool. For more information and to sign up your child for a swim scholarship, visit the Menlo Swim and Sport website.

Schedule

Menlo Swim and Sport website

PLEASE NOTE: Menlo Swim and the City of Menlo Park both use Xplor for our class registration systems. Remember to use the correct login and password for each account. Menlo Swim and the City of Menlo Park both value your privacy—we don’t share your login information with anyone, not even each other.

Belle Haven Schedule

Burgess Schedule

Donations

If you’d like to donate to help provide swim school scholarships for low-income families, donations are accepted on the Beyond Barriers Athletic Foundation's website

Jobs

Aquatics operator Menlo Swim and Sport offers excellent employment opportunities for enthusiastic, responsible people who appreciate athletic lifestyles and believe in swimming and fitness for health. Job openings are typically available year-round. Seasonal, part-time, and full-time opportunities are available. Join a team of people passionate about the quality of their work.

View openings and apply.

Reports, meetings, focus groups, marketing, and more

City Council and Commission Reports

Menlo Park City Council provides leadership and direction for the City's two swim centers, including reviewing aquatics performance reports, setting aquatic user fees, authorizing aquatics-related contracts, and approving budget expenditures for aquatics facility maintenance. Here's a selection of recent City Council reports related to the aquatics program:

Feb. 25, 2026. "2025 annual aquatics report." Parks and Recreation Commission. Staff Report PRC-2026-004.
Report | Minutes and presentation (when available)
Feb. 24, 2026. "Receive the 2025 aquatics program annual report; an independent financial analysis of the aquatics program; and the results of the City-conducted aquatics community survey. Staff Report #26-027-CC.

Report | Minutes (when available)
Jan. 27, 2026. "Update on the Belle Haven Pool hybrid model community task force." Staff Report #26-013-CC.
Report | Minutes
Sept. 30, 2025. "Authorize the city manager to execute an amendment to the aquatics operator agreement and appropriate $300,477 from the General Fund unassigned fund balance to sustain and restore operating hours at City-owned swim centers." Staff Report #25-145-CC. Council authorized the city manager to execute an amendment to the aquatics operator agreement with Team Sheeper, Inc. to sustain and restore operating hours at City-owned swim centers effective Oct. 1, and appropriate $300,477 from the General Fund unassigned fund balance for fiscal year 2025-26 for this amendment.
Report | Minutes
Sept. 9, 2025. "Provide direction on conceptual possibilities for sustaining and potentially restoring operating hours at City-owned swim centers." Staff Report #25-134-CC.

Report | Presentation | Minutes
Aug. 26, 2025. "Consider and adopt a resolution to increase aquatic user nonresident fees and subcontractor lane rental fees." Staff Report #25-071-CC.
Report | Minutes
May 13, 2025. "Consider and adopt a resolution to increase aquatic subcontractor lane rental fees; and authorize the city manager to execute an amendment to the aquatics operator agreement." Staff Report #25-071-CC.
Report | Presentation | Minutes
Apr. 15, 2025. "Consider and adopt a resolution to increase aquatic user fees and authorize the city manager to execute an amendment to the aquatics operator agreement." Staff Report #25-055-CC.
Report | Presentation | Minutes
Mar. 11, 2025. "Receive the aquatics program annual report and independent financial analysis; consider and adopt a resolution to increase aquatics fees; and provide direction on amending the aquatics operator agreement." Staff Report #25-042-CC.
Report | Presentation | Minutes
Feb. 11, 2025. "Parks and Recreation Commission recommendation for the aquatics program including to temporarily suspend the minimum operating hours requirement at Belle Haven Pool." Staff Report #25-022-CC.
Report | Minutes
Nov. 19, 2024. "Update on aquatic survey results and next steps for potential operational and fee adjustments." Staff Report #24-201-CC.
Report | Minutes
Feb. 27, 2024. "Waive the second reading and adopt an ordinance amending the City’s master fee schedule for aquatics fees." Staff Report #24-034-CC.
Report | Minutes
Sept. 12, 2023. "Authorize the city manager to execute an agreement with Team Sheeper, Inc., to operate Burgess Pool and the future Menlo Park Community Campus aquatics center." Staff Report #23-206-CC.
Report | Presentation | Minutes

Reference links to earlier reports and supporting information are available in the Background sections of the above reports.

Aquatics Survey Results

The City of Menlo Park annually conducts a citywide survey to gain insight into Menlo Park residents’ needs and preferences for the City’s two swim centers, Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool.

The 2025 aquatics user survey was open from Dec. 6, 2025 - Jan. 20, 2026, and was distributed in English and Spanish through direct email, and was available via printed surveys at City facilities. The survey received responses from 624 participants, and 418 free-text comments were shared. The survey results will be presented to Council on March 24, 2026.

Previous surveys

The 2024 aquatics user survey results were presented to City Council on November 19, 2024.

See the 2024 survey results(PDF, 3MB)

The 2024 survey was open from Oct. 12, 2024 to Nov. 11, 2024. The survey was distributed in English and Spanish through direct email; via printed surveys distributed in City facilities; and through postcards mailed to all households in District 1. The survey received responses from 766 participants, approximately three-quarters of whom self-identified as incorporated City of Menlo Park residents. Additionally, 777 free-text comments were shared.

Do you have a comment, suggestion, compliment to share? We want to hear from you! Send feedback

Annual Aquatics Performance Reports

Aquatics performance reports

The aquatics operator, Menlo Swim and Sport, annually produces performance reports for the City’s two swim centers, Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool.

The 2025 Aquatics Performance Report was presented to City Council on February 24, 2026.

Aquatics annual reports from prior years:

Aquatics Working Group

The Aquatics Working Group is an opportunity for community members to participate in intimate "focus group" sessions to provide feedback and gain insight about the programs and services at Belle Haven Pool and Burgess Pool. Sessions are open to all interested community members.

Aquatics Working Group feedback notes:

The Aquatics Working Group is 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.

Aquatics Open Houses and Youth Advisory feedback

The City of Menlo Park hosted aquatics open houses at Belle Haven Pool on Sept. 5, 2024, and at Burgess Pool on Sept. 26, 2024. The open houses gave participants the opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on aquatics programs.

Belle Haven Pool Aquatics Open House - Sept. 5, 2024
Ref. #	Feedback	Response
1	Is there a membership pass for open swim?	Yes, during the summer peak season
2	During open swim, how many lanes are open?	4 lanes or more are always available for lap swim
3	Will there be adult swim lessons?	Yes, planning to offer in Fall, but is dependent on staffing
4	Are there scholarships for fall lessons?	Yes, through Beyond Borders Athletic Foundation
5	[After expressing interest in youth teams] Will the youth swim team participate in competitions?	Yes, the youth swim team will participate in swim meets
6	[After expressing interest in youth triathlon] What is the cost to participate in youth triathlon?	The program is still coming together and the cost has not been determined yet.
7	When will the youth team start?	Expected start in November, depending on instructor’s availability
8	What is the difference between aqua fit and aqua wellness?	Aqua fit is focused on water exercise for general fitness and wellbeing; aqua therapy is rehabilitation and physical therapy to aid recovery from injury or health conditions

Burgess Pool Aquatics Open House - Sept. 26, 2024
Ref. #	Feedback	Response
1	Is aqua fit offered year round?	Yes
2	As a long time swimmer, I appreciate the extensive open hours.	-
3	Sharing lanes is a bit challenging, so I try to swim late morning/ early afternoon when the pool is less busy.	-
4	Aqua fit has been impressive, and busy	-
5	My kids and I enjoy open swim. I would like to know more about the bridge swim program	Bridge swim is for swimmers who would like to explore team swim, but need a bit more practice to build their strengths in a supportive environment
6	I remember the inflated dome that used to cover the pool. Why did it go away?	The dome deteriorated over time, with a usable lifespan of approximately 10 years. Managing the air quality inside the dome was a challenge because chlorinated water produces gases that must be exhausted away from people. When the dome was removed, potential replacements were evaluated but were deemed too costly and time-consuming to pursue at the time.

Youth Advisory Committee Focus Group

Additionally, the Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) participated in a focus group session about the aquatics program on Oct. 9, 2024, which also yielded multiple comments, ideas, and feedback.

YAC Aquatics Focus Group - Oct. 9, 2024
SNAP SURVEY: How important are the following aquatics programs to you?	# of votes
% of attendees said they learned how to swim at Burgess Pool	80%
Attendees who have worked for the pool operator	2
Open swim	12
Community events	12
Camps	11
Youth water polo	7
Youth swim team	7
Youth swim school	4
Lap swim	4
Aqua fit / Aqua wellness	0

Belle Haven "Hybrid Model" Community Task Force

In addition to the Aquatics Working Group, Belle Haven neighborhood residents and stakeholders were invited to participate in the Belle Haven Pool "Hybrid Model" Task Force. The purpose of the task force is to help develop a potential “hybrid” operating model at the pool for future consideration by City Council.

Belle Haven Pool "hybrid model" task force notes:

The Belle Haven Pool "hybrid model" community task force 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.

Marketing efforts to promote aquatics

Last updated: June 11, 2025

Here is a summary of marketing and outreach efforts Menlo Swim and Sport (MSS) is undertaking in partnership with City of Menlo Park (City) to promote attendance at the pools.

Community-based organizations (CBO's) and schools:

Partnering with Beechwood School for their 2025 summer camp students to take swim lessons at Belle Haven Pool this summer
In discussions with Boys and Girls Club for a similar partnership for 2025 summer
Coordinating with City of Menlo Park to connect with Belle Haven neighborhood groups and the Aquatics working group to support a word-of-mouth campaign to promote swim center attendance by the community
Partnered with Ravenswood School District to distribute a promotional flyer focused on youth and family swim programs to the school community before the summer break
Partnered with Menlo Park City School District o distribute a promotional flyer focused on youth and family swim programs to the school community before the summer break

Printed items/direct mail:

Banner advertising pool hours, “open to the public” is in production and will be placed on the fence at Belle Haven Pool
Coordinating with City of Menlo Park to promote the pools on a citywide direct mail piece to all city and unincorporated addresses to be delivered to mailboxes the week of June 16. (Includes a coupon for 1 free lap/drop-in swim at Belle Haven Pool, good through August 10 and promotes the City recreation programs, summer camps and activity guide)
A follow up handbill (for hand-to-hand distribution) is planned, possibly will include additional incentives for Belle Haven Pool visits

Digital:

Email campaigns to Menlo Swim and Sport’s list of over 20,000 subscribers once per week
Paid Instagram advertising
Google Adwords placements
Places ads and listings in local camp lists/blogs
Ongoing coordination with City of Menlo Park to include aquatics promotion in LCS newsletter to 35,000 subscribers once per week, and on City video monitors
The Belle Haven Pool "hybrid model" community task force 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.

Contact us

Aquatics operator

Menlo Swim & Sport
Website
Email
650-781-5525

City aquatics liaison

Tricia Mullan
Library and Community Services Supervisor
Email
650-330-2225

Ref. #	Questions / comments
1	Why is it difficult to staff up with lifeguards?
2	How good are the swim teams?
3	What are some of the current challenges?
4	What is the pay for staff?
5	How do you advertise recruitment?
6	How can the YAC help recruit for staff?
7	Is lifeguard training offered for free?
8	Do you offer holiday events with a discount?
9	Is there a program or track for someone to go from lessons to lifeguard training?
10	What improvements would you [Operator and staff] like to make?
11	What happened to the shop in the Burgess Pool office?
12	Good memories from Burgess Pool