Ark Valley News - Pool expands to remain open

Pool expands to remain open
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: May 23, 2013

You'll have more to choose from when the Valley Center public swimming pool in Lions Park opens for the season on May 25 (weather permitting).

Pool management has expanded the concession stand menu as well as opportunities to swim, which are efforts by the Valley Center Recreation Commission staff to make the pool less of a financial drain on the city and a more attractive summer hangout.

"I hope that everyone comes out and supports the pool and lets the city know they enjoy having the pool open and available," said Randi Black, the rec commission's manager of recreation programs.

The concession stand will offer hot dogs, pretzels and nachos on its daily menu. Black said many swimmers have asked for such items, instead of just candy.

"It's something people like, something different," Black said.

Besides the food, the pool's expansion includes a morning lap swim program, aqua zumba and water aerobics classes, and three moonlight swims (one more than when they debuted last summer).

"They went over extremely well," Black said of the moonlight swims. "The pool was completely packed each time. It brought in pretty good revenue for us, so we decided to add one this year. Hopefully, we'll have good turnout."

Directed by city officials after a recent discussion about closing the pool to cut costs in the city budget, the rec commission, which manages the pool for the city, has spent the past two summers exploring ways to trim expenses and increase revenues. Last season, the rec commission was successful at making the operation less costly to the city.

The city pays the rec commission the difference between expenses and revenues each year.

The 2012 payment of about $10,500 was the lowest its been since 2006. The payment was three times as much in 2011.

Overall — including maintenance, supplies and the rec commission fee — the city spent about $30,000 on the pool in 2012. Some cities regularly spend twice that much.

Last June, council members briefly discussed the possibility of shutting down the Valley Center pool. The notion was quickly defeated.

One area pool is closed this summer.

Park City leaders voted to close their pool to save about $60,000 in operating expenses.

Valley Center pool officials hope the closure will mean more business here.

"We're pretty optimistic that it'll be a good year for us," Black said. "… We've had quite a few calls from people asking about passes and daily admission."

Also added to the pool is a set of steps that are placed in the shallow end to make it easier for young children and the elderly to get in and out of the pool.

The last day of the season will be Aug. 11, when the pool closes at 5 p.m. for the second annual Pooch Plunge.

Regular hours are noon to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 1 to 6 p.m. Sundays. Jesse Ingle is pool manager. Warren Balthazor is assistant manager.