Orange’s historic Hart Park pool is now open all year long, with more programs expected to begin next month.
City leaders are partnering with a new operator that’s reopening Hart Park pool year-round to restore and expand services for residents — as officials continue grappling with an ongoing budget deficit.
[Read: Orange Inches Closer to Tax Increase Ballot Measures]
Private and group swim lessons for kids just became available Monday. Additional programs are expected to begin mid-June and will be introduced on a rolling basis throughout the summer season.
Click here for more information about pool hours and programs.
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Historically, the city has offered seasonal aquatic programs at the Hart Park pool, including recreational swim, water exercise and swim lessons. However, these programs were reduced in 2025 due to budget concerns and subsequent cuts.
Now, leaders are moving away from their previous city-operated model and instead bringing in a private contractor to handle daily operations and staffing. That contractor plans to operate the pool all 12 months out of the year.
Previously, the historic pool was only open during the summer.
At their March 10 meeting, the Orange City Council members voted 5-2 to approve a one-year contract with Premier Aquatic Services for operations and aquatic programming at the pool.
Councilmembers Arianna Barrios and John Gyllenhammer voted no due to concerns regarding cost breakdowns and whether the selected operator was the best choice.
Under the new agreement, the pool is expected to operate year-round and offer an expanded range of programs, including affordable swim lessons, recreational swimming and water aerobics. That new agreement outlines a cost at about $200,000 per year.
Previously, the city offered an eight-week summer aquatics program at Hart Park Pool, including learn-to-swim lessons, recreational swimming and water exercise. That former program cost about $400,000 annually and relied on around 45 seasonal staff, a full-time coordinator, equipment and training.
In 2025, due to budget constraints, the program was reduced to six weeks and limited to only basic swim lessons, staffed by about 15 part-time employees.
The city currently lacks the staffing capacity to restore the full aquatics program on its own, as the recreation coordinator position remains frozen and funding was not allocated to hire seasonal employees, according to the staff report.
Under the contract model, these responsibilities, including staffing, training and daily operations, would be transferred to the operator while the city would still be responsible for utilities, janitorial services and major repairs.
The agreement also includes a revenue-sharing component, though the city would only begin receiving a percentage of program revenue after certain thresholds are met. Once those levels are reached, the city’s share would range from 15% to 22.5%, depending on total revenue generated.
Dan Berzansky, a representative from Premier Aquatics, said the company aims to make its services as affordable as possible for Orange residents.
During the March meeting, he explained that swim lessons are expected to cost $15 per session, compared to about $35 which is typically charged for lessons at their own private facilities.
He also emphasized that the programs would be open to all residents, with scholarships available for families in need.
Recreational swim costs were previously $3 per session for everyone. Sessions will now cost $2 for seniors, $3 for children and $5 for adults. Open swim is expected to be available most days out of the year, Berzansky said at the meeting.
The swim lessons would include groups of three to six students, which Berzansky explained is a “really healthy ratio” for teaching kids to swim. He stated that the programs looked to teach kids to swim quickly and effectively.
Included in the proposal is a $186,000 management fee, which Berzansky said would cover lifeguard costs and 12 full months of programs and public swimming opportunities. In the past, the pool has not operated year-round.
Berzansky emphasized the importance of making the pool accessible all year long.
“Swim lessons are one way kids learn to swim, but having access to pools is another piece,” he said.
Many Orange County cities don’t have municipal public swimming pools to offer residents.
[Read: Which Cities Offer The Best Public Pool Access in Orange County?]
Premier Aquatic Services currently operates a city pool in both Aliso Viejo and Laguna Niguel.
Julie Lopiccolo, an Orange resident and water safety expert and advocate, further emphasized the importance of aquatic programs for the community.
“I want to express how important it is for the city to provide residents with the opportunity to learn the life-saving skill of swimming,” she said. “Thank you for searching for a solution for our community.”
However, many council members raised concerns about the cost of this new partnership, especially given the city’s ongoing budget deficit and limited financial resources.
It also comes as the city once again eyes a sales tax increase to bail them out of looming budget deficits. The question is likely to appear on the city’s ballot in November.
[Read: Orange to Again Ask Voters for a Sales Tax Increase to Save Budget]
Councilmember Barrios argued that the city needed a more detailed cost analysis of the new plan, pressing staff for a more comprehensive breakdown. She questioned whether the city had accounted for all financial obligations.
“Not because I don’t want the program, but I fear we are letting our passions for what we want in the community override what we don’t have in the bank,” Barrios said at the March 10 meeting.
City staff confirmed they will need an additional $60,000 to cover costs for operating the pool through the remainder of this fiscal year, with funding for future years to be determined in the upcoming budget cycle as officials grapple with a projected $20 million deficit.
According to early budget projections, city officials plan on reducing that deficit by $17 million through shifting money around from the IT fund, EMT spending and capital improvements.
“As much as I want our kids to have a safe, wonderful program at our historic pool, I can’t be a yes for this,” Barrios said.
Other council members shared similar concerns.
Councilmember Gyllenhammer questioned why Premier Aquatic Services was selected, even though it was not the lowest-cost proposal. He also raised concerns about unknown costs and emphasized the importance of understanding the “true cost picture.”
Community members also spoke on the financial implications.
Jonathan St. Clair, a board member of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, warned that the agreement could shift potential revenue toward a private operator rather than the city.
He also questioned whether the proposed lesson structure would ultimately be more expensive for families than previous city-run programs.
“Is the city losing potential revenue?” St. Clair said at the meeting. “The contract favors the contractor, not the city.”
Despite these concerns, other council members emphasized the broader community benefits of reopening the pool.
Councilmember Jon Dumitru expressed support for the partnership, highlighting the benefits for communities without backyard pools.
“Public-private partnerships are a wonderful thing,” Dumitru said.
“When we were operating the pool for eight weeks, it was just shy of half a million dollars,” he said. “It was $420,000, and now through this partnership, it’s roughly $227,000. That’s not lost on me that there’s a savings.”
Collegiate News Service Editor Angelina Hicks contributed to this report.