Stop Wasting Your Pool: A Systematic Guide to Maximizing User Groups and Variety Daniel Leatherman & Matt Jakubowski

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1 Denver, CO October 18-20, 2017 Stop Wasting Your Pool: A Systematic Guide to Maximizing User Groups and Variety Daniel Leatherman & Matt Jakubowski Daniel Leatherman is a Facility Manager II at Ray's Splash Planet, an indoor water park owned and operated by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. Daniel is a young professional that has worked in public health, traditional recreation centers, and serves currently as an aquatic facility manager. Daniel's professional strengths include budgeting, creating strategic business staffing models, and managing a staff of 62 part-time to supervisor level staff. Daniel and his wife are both natives of Charlotte, and are proud to call the city home. Matt Jakubowski is a Facility Manager II at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center, a 50-meter natatorium owned and operated by Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation. Matt has served at the MCAC for 17 years, and has been instrumental in the facilities success. The MCAC has hosted everything from an annual kid s triathlon in beautiful downtown Charlotte to national Olympic-qualifier events. Matt s professional strengths include unparalleled customer service, event management, and manages a year-round staff of 58 part-time to supervisor level staff. Abstract In a world of ever-evolving aquatic trends, fads, and new program ideas, aquatic professionals live with one constant demand for space. This session will provide attendees an overview of how Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation manages programming at two high-traffic aquatic venues: an indoor water park, and a 50m and 25yd dual pool facility. Under the direction of the presenters, both facilities have identified and solicited unique user groups previously unreached in their markets. In an ongoing effort to encourage more people to aquatics, Mecklenburg County has developed non-traditional programming including kayak sports, scuba, and various forms of water polo to program alongside traditional swim lessons, swim team rentals, birthday parties, and more. This degree of variety has allowed Mecklenburg County to reach previously unreached user groups, and developed a tradition of aquatic inclusion. With the influx of formerly unreached aquatic participants, Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has worked to provide consistent pool usage prioritization, and has had great success at National Swimming Pool Foundation conference@nspf.org

2 Denver, CO October 18-20, 2017 budgeting out pool space in heavily used facilities. In addition to identifying the need for programming, one of the great balancing acts associated with programming aquatic facilities is the need to weigh the benefits of staff-led vs contractor-led programs. Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation has experienced first-hand the cost and benefits of many programs that fall into both categories, and are constantly assessing and evolving to provide the best services for stakeholders. Utilizing a blended method of both staff and contractor-led programming, this aquatics team has an outstanding reputation throughout the region. In addition to programming, both facilities are heavily utilized as private and semi-private rental facilities. Mecklenburg County has experienced great success in facility rentals including swim meets, dive meets, birthday parties, triathlons, and more. The team from Mecklenburg County is prepared to share how to increase your facility usage, and provide ideas and tips to reaching non-traditional aquatic users in your market. National Swimming Pool Foundation conference@nspf.org

3 Stop Wasting Your Pool! Matt Jakubowski Facility Manager II Daniel Leatherman Facility Manager II Mecklenburg County, NC Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center Cordelia Double Oaks Ray s Splash Planet Ramsey Creek Swim Beach Marion Diehl Facility Overview MCAC 50m x 25yd Competition Pool 25yd x 4 lane Therapeutic Pool 1150 seating capacity Hot Tub and Fitness Center Annual Users 139,000 7 Full Time, 45 Part Time Ray s Splash Planet 29,000 sq. ft. Splash Park Lazy River, 3 story slide Fitness Center and Gymnasium Annual Users 125,000 6 Full Time, 63 Part Time

4 Progression by Age Swim Lessons Swim Team Camp Cannonball Camp Neptune Jr. Lifeguard Camp CLIMB Lifeguard Camp Counselor Masters Water Fitness Non-Traditional Aquatic Users Training Opportunities Military Air Marshals Fire Special Events Holiday Events Halloween, Christmas, Easter Kids TRI Non-Traditional Aquatic Users Birthday Parties RSP MCAC

5 Non-Peak Users MCAC Private Lessons Masters Special Olympics Senior Games Water Polo Kayak Polo Kayak Roll Ray s Senior Water Aerobics Parent/Tot Homeschool Contractor Led Instructors paid 65% of fees collected Water Exercise Swim Teams Jr Swim Masters Year-Round Private Lessons 2 Masters 2 Jr Swim Swim Teams 4 Year Round Mandatory 2 hosted meets/yr. 20% rental rate Minimum of 300 hours per month Seasonal Swim Teams Full Rental rate Jr Swim Team

6 Staff Led Senior Water Aerobics Free RSP Group Swim Lessons Paid Free CLIMB Camps In Service Stop Wasting Your Pool Swim Meets 9 Shutdown 30 Partial Rentals Evenings 25% minimum for members Swim Teams Program Scheduling Groups Birthdays Partnerships YMCA Usage Questions? Thank you! (no questions please)