Multi-Use Facilities: All Things to All People

Parks & Recreation, Nov, 1998 by Sheri L. Endsley

Take a stroll into your local recreation center these days and you'll discover an interesting phenomenon. From your first step inside the door, a wave of chlorine fills your nostrils. Then you discover a long line at the front desk. It seems like 20 or 30 children are checking in for swim team and swim classes -- and it's the middle of the day! After what seems like hours, you proceed to the weight room for your workout. Upon completion, you hurry to the locker room for a refreshing shower, only to discover the temperature a balmy 85 degrees. You try to get dressed, but your clothes stick to your body, your hair won't do anything, and sweat pours off your forehead. What are you going to do? You were trying to impress clients at your three o'clock meeting. Guess what? You have just entered the wonderful world of indoor pools recreation centers.

Many multi-use facilities today have indoor pools. While the above situation is extreme, aquatic professionals face several challenges in operating indoor swimming pools as a part of their recreation centers. The challenges listed below primarily focus on indoor pools, but much of the discussion is applicable to outdoor pools and general facility management.

Use of Facility

One of the challenges we face is how to be all things to all people. How can my pool meet the needs of all user groups? The first thing we must realize is that we will never meet everyone's needs. While it is good to have a balanced program, your focus should be on finding out what your pool was designed for and what your community wants.

You can accomplish this in several ways:

Check architectural plans. If your pool was designed as a competitive pool, and the specifications call for a maximum of 82 degrees, it is going to be difficult to use it as a therapeutic pool.

Take a survey of your users to determine their interests. While this is often done immediately after opening a facility, surveys can be great tools to not only determine what your patrons desire but how well you are serving them.

Consider what your competitors are doing. If a neighboring pool has a strong competitive program, you might be better off developing a strong learn-to-swim program.

Consult your advisory council. It can be a strong resource and support group for you since it represents a neighborhood or community group that has an interest in your facility.

If your facility is supported through local taxes, you might be required to provide opportunities for a variety of groups. One of the first things to address is regulating pool temperature. Competitive swimmers would like the pool no warmer than 80 degrees. Seniors, those with disabilities, and small children usually prefer a pool of at least 90 degrees. In my experience, I frequently was asked to turn the temperature up -- as if I could turn a knob and a 360,000-gallon body of water could be raised to suit their request! I have found that the best compromise in temperatures is somewhere between 83 and 85 degrees. Complaints still come, but once you explain how you are working to accommodate many user groups, most people understand.

Frequently, facilities must recover a percentage of operating costs in revenues generated through programs. This may seem like an insurmountable task, but it is certainly achievable. Rather than focusing on learn-to-swim classes exclusively, why not investigate some other ways to generate revenue?

Aquatic fitness classes: Fitness enthusiasts enjoy working out in the water because it seems like they don't sweat as much. Low-impact exercise also offers less of a chance of injury. A monthly pass that allows the participant to enjoy a limitless number of classes may be the way to go, provided you have a good variety of classes from which to choose.

Competitive teams: Swimming, synchronized-swimming, water-polo, and diving teams always need space to practice. This can be a great source of revenue and may ultimately bring tourist dollars to your city.

Rentals: Birthday parties are especially popular. Try putting together themed packages that coincide with whatever is popular at the time. Inflatables and slides are big draws.

Specialized aquatics: Scuba diving and scout water badges. Work with your local scuba/dive shop to offer classes. Water-safety instructors can teach scout water-badge courses.

Maybe you don't have to worry about revenue production. Collaborations with nonprofit organizations, schools, and day-care centers are always a good idea for community outreach. Why not try a fourth-grade water-safety program? Or contact your local child-care center and offer to teach swimming classes to their preschoolers. Corporate and local business sponsorships will help you to offer special events. Host national events -- like Water Walk for Arthritis or the Aquatic Exercise Association's instructor training programs -- and solicit sponsorships to help offset your costs.

Staffing

Once you've determined how to use your pool, the next challenge is how to staff it. I strongly recommend having all staff certified through a national organization. Because of limited resources, many departments hire staff members trained in both operations and programming to operate the pool. Because the areas are so diverse, it would be preferable to hire separate staff for both areas.