So I've been waiting and waiting and waiting for the new rec center up the road to open. I've been thinking how cool it will be... walk a mile and a half to the pool, work out, walk a mile and a half back... think of all of the calories burned! Think of the workout to be had!
Didn't really think they'd rip me off on the pool.
When they said "warm water fitness pool," I thought "25x25 pool warm enough to keep the blue hairs happy." I did not think "warm puddle just big enough to wave around your pool noodle." After all, all of the high schools in the area have swim teams and they use the rec center pools for practice. It would only seem logical to have a pool of an appropriate size to use for that purpose. Um, no.
What we have is a warm puddle (which I didn't even bother getting into) then we have a kiddie pool with all of the accompanying stuff to climb on, and then we have this "current area" (that's what they call it) which is sort of like a thin lap lane that winds around and through the kiddie area, and has a current to it, to add to your workout when you're walking around with your pool noodle.
Of course, sticking the "current" area in the middle of kiddie land makes absolutely no sense, being that the blue haired ladies don't like to get their hair wet... and being in the kiddie area ensures that you're going to get wet!
I was pondering the merits of trying to swim against the current, but it's not really a wide enough channel to pull that off. Not to mention that I'd probably get whacked with a noodle if I tried that.
Oh well, I guess I'll just go back to the old pool. At least it's quiet and generally noodle-free.
Yes, our 50 meter outdoor pool is no more. In August it started being torn up, and will be a kiddie water park by next summer. Urbana's Crystal Lake sent me a survey because I was a season pass holder. One of the questions was, "if Crystal Lake is renovated, what would you like to see". Crystal lake is 25 meters across, and has a lot of lap lanes. It is wonderful. Well I write, a 50 meter pool, and don't put in a STUPID water park.
The next question was, "if Crystal Lake was to be renovated into a water park, what features would you like to see",,gaaaaaaaaa
At our YMCA, we don't give discounting to anyone. It actually can lose your charitable tax status because other health clubs can say you are being competitive. So all discounting for Senior citizens has been discontinued.
In talking with the YMCA director about this trend toward water parks, he cited articles in different recreation and fitness resourses he has that show water parks are big bucks and the mainstream public are not lap swimmers and competitive swimmers, but people who want to float on a lazy river, lay out on the deck and get a tan while their children paddle around in the zero depth pool.
I was on the planning board but was outvoted by the county big wigs. Frankly, I think they already had their minds made up what they were going to do. The "planning board" was really just for show. We had a lot of good ideas that were swept under the rug every time.....VERY frustrating!
:(
Originally posted by swimr4life
I was on the planning board but was outvoted by the county big wigs. Frankly, I think they already had their minds made up what they were going to do. The "planning board" was really just for show. We had a lot of good ideas that were swept under the rug every time.....VERY frustrating!
:(
Ditto here, we were actively trying to prevent the removal of the 50 meter pool. But their minds were made up. I even researched and found 50 meter competive water parks that were a success, but that is not what they were sold on, and money played a big, big part in it. We don't always have as hot of a summer as this year and the pools around here lose tons of money during a slightly cooler than average summer.
Why do counties/recreation depts./the people in charge of deciding what pools to build seem to favor the elderly/"special needs" swimmes over competitive or lap swimmers?
I'm not being facetious here; it's something I've been wondering for quite some time.
Do the elderly swimmers give more money to the pool or community? Do they use the pool more and thus bring in more revenue?
Every place I've swum, it seems that there are a lot more lap/competitive swimmers than there are elderly or "special needs" swimmers. Also, the membership fees (at least at the YMCA) are a lot cheaper for senior citizens than for "regular" adults.
So, I've always wondered why it seems that the "real" swimmers get no say in things like water temperature, lap swim hours, etc. and why the senior citizens and aqua aerobicizers seem to set the tone for the pool?
Just curious, honestly... ;)
Originally posted by feelinblue
Why do counties/recreation depts./the people in charge of deciding what pools to build seem to favor the elderly/"special needs" swimmes over competitive or lap swimmers?
It is like the rest of the "regular " taxpayers...we have no
"advocates"....we just pay the "annual dues"and shut up.
I feel so sorry for the so called "gifted kids" in school...they
sit in class bored to tears while "special needs" kids
have one on one attention. What a waste the brightest kids
are denied the resources...
Nobody ever said life was fair.
There are pool designs that successfully accomodate "serious" swimmers while still including all of the "waterpark" features. The secret is to GET INVOLVED during the planning stages of the pool or recreation center. When you hear that your city or county is planning to build a new aquatic facility, try to get on the planning board. That way there will be someone involved who can ensure that the pool design won't shortchange the lap swimmers.
This seems to be A TREND for new pools!! UGGGHHH! Our county has done the same thing many times in the past few years. In the meantime, our county high school meet has to be held an hour away in ANOTHER county even though our county has the majority of the swimmers in the state! I don't understand!
There is a pool about 3 miles from my house. I was like you and looked forward to it opening. I was even able to be on the planning committee for it. I fought a losing battle to get them to build it large enough to have a warm pool for hydro classes and the elderly and a cooler pool for the competitive swimmers. They said it would not be cost effective! BUT, they built a million dollar OUTDOOR play structure that is only open for the summer!! :mad:
SOOO...I drive 20 minutes from my home to swim in a privately owned swimming pool with my masters team (the only thing that makes it worth it for me) ) and pay a monthy fee! Our swimmers continue to swim high school practices in 85-86 degree water...getting sick and almost passing out due to getting overheated. UUGGGHHH!
I'm working on writing a form letter to the county and sending it out to the teams so they can also send it to the necessary officials to try to get the county to lower the water temp for the h.s. season.
Anyone out there have any success fighting this battle or do you think I'm wasting my time?:confused:
I don't suppose USMS has prepared some sort of report on how to convince people to build swimmer friendly pools? Something that shows examples of pools that have both waterpark and lap swimming features? Seems like a natural project for an organization like USMS...
