February 2010 - Parks & Recreation - 48

pools with a splash continued from page 44

recreation center hosts more than 500
parties annually, which Spiller calls " a
big draw and revenue generator. "
Other communities are providing both
a recreational area and a swim team practice pool. In Round Rock, the parks and
recreation department uses one of its outdoor pools for instruction, while the other

is used by competitive teams. Smith says
that aquatics managers shouldn't look at it
as a " one or the other " proposition.
" People get it into their heads that
competitive pools aren't for families, "
she says. " But you can add some amenities, and suddenly it becomes very attractive-parents can swim laps while

their kids can play. "
She also adds that for agencies that
may not have the money to add large, interactive elements, floatables are a good
option. Smith says, " You can blow it up,
add it to the pool, take it down, and let
swim team practice in the same day. "

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46 Parks & Recreation

February 2010

www.NRPA .ORG

Martel from Round Rock says that it all
comes down to what your community
wants. In her town, residents wanted a
family destination, which is what her agency tried to create with Rock'n River. The
project was to be completed in four phases, but since the downturn in the economy, only the first phase has been finished.
Because of this experience, she advises
that agencies build an entire facility at
once.
" We hope to grow this facility out, because that is what our community wants, "
she says. " And we'll give it to them, but
right now, things are on hold. "
Gonzalez in Carol Stream is also hoping to build a new facility soon-this one
indoors that would feature a zero-depth
entry lap pool as well as a spray park
for kids. She says the days of adding
a square pool with no other amenities
have ended, and people " would prefer
to go to something more interactive. "
But Cuyahoga Falls's Stewart seems
content with the aquatics offerings his
agency provides residents. " In today's
economy, we would not build another
aquatic facility. We would look to add
new features, but even that would be
tough, " he says.
The park and recreation department looked at add a wave rider feature
to Water Works, but in the end decided
that they wouldn't be able to generate
enough revenue to pay for it.
Stewart says, " Look-in the end I
think there is a place for both traditional pools and waterparks. They are very
different, and today, people want more.
You have to offer more to be successful. "

Rachel Roberts is a former editor of
Parks & Recreation and a frequent
contributor to the magazine.

February 2010 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of February 2010 - Parks & Recreation