Lessons Learned
A fesibility study shows what swims in indoor aquatic facility design

As part of a feasibility study for Lake in the Hills Parks and Recreation Department, Burnidge Cassell and Associates, Inc., looked at three community centers with indoor aquatic facilities. We learned what works well and what would be improved if given the opportunity. These lessons learned can help you, too.

Dundee Community Center

The Dundee Township Park District Community Center serves 53,000 people in four communities with 80 percent resident memberships. The indoor bather load is 330. This 80,000-square-foot facility opened in 1989 and has 1,500 fitness center members.

Larry Moscato, assistant superintendent of facilities for the park district noted that the community center's indoor pool supports twelve high school swim programs and three swim teams. Originally the pool was constructed as an outdoor facility with plans that it would be enclosed in the future. Only two years later the pool was enclosed, but the adjacent diving well wasn't. Big mistake! Since the eight-lane, 25-meter competitive lap pool is only five feet deep, lifeguard testing is only possible at the park district during the summer months.

Because the Dundee pool is heavily used for swim meets, spectator seating is a requirement as well as ample deck area. Three high aluminum bleachers work well. Consider a deck area between 18 feet to 20 feet for a competitive pool. The minimum deck area required by the 2000 Illinois Department of Public Health Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code is eight feet. Anyone who has attended a swim meet will know why more deck area is

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needed. The participants and spectators are numerous.

Daylight is another important consideration. Most people agree that the more natural daylight is better. Skylights along with perimeter windows create an indoor environment that is pleasant to be in during the cold and gray winter days.

If you are thinking of a whirlpool, Moscato recommends that the pool be sized to accommodate a minimum of twenty people. Also, minimize pool supervision by the design and layout of the pool to reduce operating expenses. The top aquatic revenue-producers exercise classes, rentals, swim teams, and lap swimming.

Another suggestion was to incorporate an adjacent room that can accommodate twenty people for birthday rentals and pool staff meetings. Items to include in this space would include a microwave, sink and refrigerator.

Park Ridge Community Center

The Park Ridge Recreation and Park District recently celebrated its tenth year of operating its 60,000-square-foot community center, which serves 37,000 people and has 3,300 memberships. Ninety percent are residents. The indoor bather load is approximately 140 for the lap pool and 80 for the leisure pool.

Is the operation of its indoor four-lane, 25-yard lap pool and leisure pool profitable? Yes, according to park district director, Jim Lange. Swim lessons followed by aqua aerobics are the top revenue-producing programs. What would Lange do to improve the agency's indoor aquatic facilities?

1. Make it bigger! Six lanes instead of four and more pool deck area. An area for spectators to view aquatic events is another improvement that would be made if possible.

2. Family changing rooms are another consideration and a necessity when planning aquatic components. Self-contained changing rooms with no shared facilities are preferred with a minimum of two spaces.

3. Provide an entrance to the pool area without having to pass through the locker room and showers.

Niles Family Fitness Center

This 96,000-square-foot facility opened in 1999 with approximately 60,000 square feet dedicated to recreation with the remaining area serving the community's senior population. The facility boasts a membership of

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4,700 with approximately 44 percent resident memberships.

The indoor aquatic facilities include a four-lane 25-yard lap pool with a slide and a leisure pool with a bather load of approximately 220. Unlike the two previous facilities, this center is located on an urban site, which affected the design of the facility's program requirements.

Does it make a profit? Carl Maniscalco, facility director, says yes now, but that was not always true in the past. Initially the membership fees were too low and all programs were free. Since taking the director position in 2000, Maniscaico has put the facility's financial picture in the black. Lessons learned at this facility include the following.

• Don't set the initial membership fees too low or it will be a tough hill to climb to increase fees.

• Aquatic features are an important program compliment and draw to the public.

• Incorporate a six-lane lap pool.

• Make the leisure pool as large as possible.

• Separate the leisure pool and the lap pool for health and use purposes.

• Provide steps versus pool ladders for both seniors and children's safety.

Daniel R. Atilano, AIA, is a principal with Burnidge, Cassell and Associates, Inc., an architectural firm specializing in park and recreation design services. Located in Elgin, Illinois, the firm's services include feasibility studies, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and planning services.

Revised leisure pool design and safety standards are scheduled for publication, in 2003 by the National Spa and Pool Institute and the American National Standards Institute. - Athletic Business, August 2002, www.athleticbusiness.com

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