Community pool reps joining forces
 |
| The Edsall Park Pool. |
We might be having wintry November weather, but leaders of local community swimming pools are already thinking about next summer. The newly formed Mason District Pool Management Group, sponsored by the Mason District Council of Community Associations, is bringing together local pool reps to share ideas about improving management and best practices.
During the group’s first two meetings, “we figured out that pretty much every pool has the same issues with lifeguards, facilities, and other things,” says the group’s founder, Bryan Woodcock, president of the Edsall Park Swim Club. “Most of the pools want to do things smarter, not harder, and it looks like this group is going to be good at standardizing processes across companies.”
“The long-term goal is to share supplies and talents across pools to save money, to provide a backup network, and to provide better services to our members,” Woodcock says. The more immediate goal is to educate pool boards about the various management companies that operate in the area and explore ways to improve the quality of services they provide.
The group heard presentations from three pool management companies – High Sierra Pools, Premier Pool Management, and Continental Pools – at its Nov. 18 meeting.
Four other pool companies have been invited to the group’s next meeting, Dec. 8, at Crestwood Elementary School in Springfield, 7-9 p.m.: Premier Aquatics, NV Pools, Titan Pool Service, and Guardian Aquatics.
Pool leaders asked the company reps about such issues as how they recruit lifeguards, how much experience pools managers have, how guard schedules are developed, how guards are compensated for overtime, the clean-up process, the policy for staff breaks, how equipment problems are handled, the use of performance-based contracts, and much more.
Some of the local pools that participated include Lincolnia Park Recreational Club, North Springfield Swim Club, Broyhill Crest Recreation Association, Parklawn Recreation Association, Camelot Community Club, Long Branch Swim & Racquet Club, Ilda Community Recreation Association, and the Dowden Terrace Recreation Association.
If you would like to join this group, contact Bryan Woodcook, [email protected].
It would be nice if the pools would recognize that there are people out there who would come to the pools if we could justify the cost. Those of us who have no swim team kids and can't go to the pool every day are paying 30-50 per swim, especially if the summer is not great for the pool (e.g., lots of afternoon storms). I would take my son to the pool if we could pay by the visit (maybe $5-10 per person?).
The group definitely understands your concern. There are between 10 and 15 pools in Mason District alone, all of them offer different facilities options and different price points for memberships. Please take a look at everyone prior to writing off membership completely.
Contact the Glen Forest pool, I know that they have daily guest fees, we went there last year. Small, not fancy but was just what we needed on a hot summer day! Quiet and not crowded at all.
You can also go to Arlington County school pools for about $8-$12 a visit. Wakefield High off Route 7 in Bailey's Crossroads is close by, & for us fair-skinned folks it's covered. Also open weekends year-round.
But I applaud the coalition, hope they have great success. Maybe set up special times & classes for seniors, toddlers, teens and families. When my kids were little I'd have happily paid for nutritious dinner food vs hot dogs & ice cream available. Wraps, cut up fruits & veggies, mozzarella sticks, pasta or potato salad & Cole slaw could be sold for a profit to busy parents bringing kids after work. Heck that would even attract parents who DON'T want to swim.
Facilities rental during spring & fall could attract picnicking groups, possibly paying extra for lifeguards & swimming privileges if it's warm enough. As a model, Broyhill Crest hosts a successful fundraiser that attracts paying guests from outside the community.
You can also go to Arlington County school pools for about $8-$12 a visit. Wakefield High off Route 7 in Bailey's Crossroads is close by, & for us fair-skinned folks it's covered. Also open weekends year-round.
But I applaud the coalition, hope they have great success. Maybe set up special times & classes for seniors, toddlers, teens and families. When my kids were little I'd have happily paid for nutritious dinner food vs hot dogs & ice cream available. Wraps, cut up fruits & veggies, mozzarella sticks, pasta or potato salad & Cole slaw could be sold for a profit to busy parents bringing kids after work. Heck that would even attract parents who DON'T want to swim.
Facilities rental during spring & fall could attract picnicking groups, possibly paying extra for lifeguards & swimming privileges if it's warm enough. As a model, Broyhill Crest hosts a successful fundraiser that attracts paying guests from outside the community.