Excellence In Aquatics.

Bolingbrook Park District's indoor aquatic complex features an activity pool with spraying attractions.

As competition from lavish waterparks increases municipalities have been forced to examine how they can best provide expanded aquatic services for their patrons Five cities recently received recognition from the National Recreation and Park Association's National Aquatic Section for meeting those challenges head and making a positive impact on the communities they serve. Hopefully their stories will lend assistance to other communities that are attempting to revitalize and renovate their aquatic programming.

Gone are the days of the 25-yard, three-foot-minimum-depth, six-lane swimming pool, which offered only open swim, swim lessons, and swim-team practice. In an effort to meet the growing needs nd desires of citizens' municipalities are rethinking the "typical pool." There is greater competition for participants, and any cities need to provide for basic needs and increase their cost recovery as budgets get tighter.

To this extent, recognition is given annually for cities that have provided aquatic facilities and programs in the face of numerous challenges. NRPA's Excellence in Aquatics Award offers the highest recognition available in the aquatic profession for quality planning, design, operation and programming of diverse aquatic opportunities. The highlights from each of the five winning communities provided below illustrate ways to meet the changing needs of citizens.

Class I

Portland, Oregon

Portland residents are fortunate to have swimming pools with a lot of shallow water. Most of the pools start at one-and-one-half feet of water depth, with spacious areas leading up to four feet. This provides for excellent water depths for teaching swim lessons and for recreational swimming. Portland Parks and Recreation operates six pools and eight outdoor pools. It owns 10 of these pools, two are school-district pools, one is a community-college pool, and one belongs to an athletic club.

Four basic program interests are provided at both the indoor and outdoor pools: recreational, instructional, fitness, and competitive programming. Citizens of all ages -- infants through senior citizens -- participate in these programs. The majority of the more than 960,000 annual visits take place in the summer months when the weather is warmer and the outdoor pools are open.

In 1997, more than 21,000 students participated in the summer swim-lesson program. Portland also provided free swim lessons at the beginning of the summer for some 3,000 students. The Junior Lifeguard Program had 504 participants, while the Junior Swim Instructor program attracted 255 participants. Special events drew 3,700 people to the pools, and more than 600 youth participated in the Summer Competitive Swim League.

The citizens of Portland passed a $59 million bond program for improvements to the park system in 1994. Eight of the aquatic facilities are receiving improvements from this bond measure. Renovation of the pools' mechanical systems and the addition of drop slides, water slides, and interactive play equipment are making the facilities better and more exciting places to recreate.

Two community centers will open new indoor facilities in Portland within the next two years. Portland Parks and Recreation is continuing to look toward future growth in facilities and programs to serve its community's needs.

CLASS II

Lakewood, Colorado 

From toddlers being introduced to the wonders of the water to older adults enjoying active lifestyles, the Foothills Aquatics Program in Lakewood, Colorado, has kept with its motto of "Quality, Community, and Service" by offering something for everyone.

Their four outdoor pools and two indoor pools serve a community of nearly 160,000 residents including at-risk and special-needs citizens. All facilities are designed and constructed to comply with ADA standards, and both indoor pools are equipped with ramps or lifts to accommodate accessibility needs.

The Foothills Parks and Recreation District's main priority, as identified by a community task force, is to maintain existing facilities to keep them safe and modern. This is evidenced by the $180,000 installation of a new stainless steel gutter return system, a new filtration system and upgrades to float valves, and the conversion of gas chlorine at all facilities.

Staff training is also a top priority, with 40 hours of additional specialized development for managerial staff and 20 hours of additional training for lifeguards and instructors to assure the community a safe and fun experience at the pools. Examples of management training include ropes-course team building; customer service; policies, procedures, and operations; universal precautions; pool chemistry and mechanics; and supervisory skills. Training for all aquatic staff includes water tests, risk management, instructor expectations, skin-cancer information, and customer service.

On a year-round basis, the Foothills district provides professional development in the areas of presenting a professional image, defusing angry patrons, preparing performance appraisals, and encouraging personal motivation. In addition, regular audits of the entire aquatics staff -- including emergency drills and facility walk-throughs -- are performed. Efforts in training have resulted in a 90 percent return rate of employees.

More than 10,000 people learn to swim at Foothills pools each year; although programming is by no means limited to traditional swim lessons. Foothills' children's programs integrate water games into summer-camp activities; underwater hockey is a popular past time. Young participants are offered a chance to compete against one another as part of the recreational and competitive swimming and diving teams, which build self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment.

The Foothills Parks and Recreation District is proud of its tradition of excellent service and continues to strive to fulfill its mission of providing quality, cost-conscious leisure opportunities that meet the varying needs of the community.

CLASS III

Skokie, Illinois

On the road to excellence, the Skokie Park District has made the commitment to offer something for everyone. This district strives for efficiency and effectiveness in all of its aquatics programming.

The community plays a large role in providing direction for the aquatics program. In 1995, with the assistance of community focus groups, one pool was completely renovated into a family-oriented aquatic center. This facility offers recreational and programmed swimming to more than 38,000 people annually. Major programming for this aquatic center captures the attention of toddlers, adults, and seniors in water safety, instruction, and exercise classes. The most popular attraction is the Spray Play Safety surfaced area. Children younger than 10 can burn off their energy and be safe at the same time. There is a swimming area for everyone, from a zero-depth entrance to a four-lane, 25-yard swimming area to a 10-foot diving well with a drop slide and a one-meter diving board.

The following year, the community focus groups set project goals toward converting another pool into a large community water-park facility. This water park was created to give local residents, as well as those from neighboring suburbs, an accessible, positive, and educational leisure experience. Parents and toddlers take advantage of the fully accessible zero-depth pool with spray features that teach the ins and outs of water flow.

There is a pool just for toddlers, with dolphins and a waterfall. Designed for energetic youth, this pool has an enclosed fence. Older participants can choose from two flume slides, open and closed. And everyone -- young and old -- enjoys the tube slides. Even if you do not enjoy the activities at the water park, there are other options. The accessible sand playground has a safety surface, shaded areas, and toys. For order youth and adults, there are two sand volleyball courts, which convert to outdoor ice-skating rinks in the winter.

CLASS IV

Bolingbrook, Illinois 

In 1992, the Bolingbrook Park District conducted a series of studies evaluating the physical condition of the Bolingbrook Aquatic Center, the first indoor wave pool in the United States. Mechanical breakdowns, lack of community support, and an operational deficit were just three of the many problems facing the center.

After receiving overwhelming favorable responses from surveys, the district's focus turned toward construction of a new facility. In March 1994, a $13.5 million multi-use recreation and aquatic facility was approved. The new outdoor Pelican Harbor Water Park was completed in dune 1996, one year ahead of schedule. This facility was just one portion of the new complex, which opened three months later, and included a gymnasium, indoor playground, dance studio, fitness center, offices, and an indoor aquatic complex directly adjacent to Pelican Harbor. This simultaneously operated indoor/outdoor aquatic complex is the only one of its kind in the state.

The indoor aquatic center features an 80,000-gallon, zero-depth activity pool with spraying attractions and a 50-foot-long waterslide; a 25-yard, six-lane lap pool; a 10-person hot tub spa; an observation and party deck; and locker facilities, which it shares with the fitness center. Pelican Harbor features a 250,000-gallon, zero-depth pool; two 75-foot water slides; body flumes and inner tube; spray playground with soft play surface; sand play area with volleyball and dry sand playground; coed family changing room; turf and sun areas; party decks; and full-service concessions area.

This year-round operation has provided the opportunity to develop new aquatic programs as well as expand on existing programs. In 1993, less than 1,800 people participated in 89 available aquatic programs; four years later, more than 170 aquatic programs attracted some 4,400 participants. Programs offered include infant/parent swim classes; toddler, youth, and adult learn-to-swim; senior and aqua step aerobics; swim team; scuba diving; community water-safety classes; CPR and first-aid instruction; and ice-safety classes. There were also 500 birthday parties, which served more than 11,000 guests, in 1997.

Financially there is no comparison between the operations. In 1993, expenses exceeded revenues, resulting in a deficit of more than $125,000. In 1997, for the first time in eight years, Bolingbrook Park District's aquatic operations enjoyed a net surplus of more than $60,000.

CLASS V

Miamisburg, Ohio 

In 1994, the city of Miamisburg's aquatic program embarked on a three-year project to develop a new 41-acre community park and family aquatic center. The funding for this project was unique in that $4.6 million was provided by the Department of Energy. The city's existing 60-year-old aquatic complex was located next to a super-fund clean-up site that required its closing during completion of the project. The grant funded the construction of a new aquatic center and park. The cost for Phase I of the project totaled $5.1 million, with the facilities opening in June 1997.

Part of the design process included the development of a citizen committee that assisted staff and the consultant team in visiting other community facilities, learning about new aquatic trends, and soliciting feedback from the general community. Also, as a result of a community "name the pool" contest, the facility is known as "Sycamore Trails Aquatic Center--The Splash Zone."

The new aquatic center accommodates 2,000 visitors and offers 15,800 square feet of heated-water surface area. Other features include zero-depth entry, "funbrellas" for shading, an eight-lane pool with a diving well, a water playground, and several slides. In 1993, 15,000 people visited the old community pool for general swim, while 60,000 people visited the city's new facility in 1997.

Young people of all ages enjoy the pool's three slides, from the 13.3-foot body slide to the 162-foot double-loop tube slide to the "Billy the Bullfrog" tot slide. Other amenities include water spray equipment and geysers located in the zero-depth entry areas. Sand play areas and two lighted sand volleyball courts also offer recreational opportunities.