Building the best pool facility possible...

I'm currently in the process of putting together a committee to start planning for a new aquatic facility in our area. I'm asking all of you to help me make a list of the things that should go into a facility if you had unlimited resources and space. I want to start my project with the biggest dream possible and then have it brought back to earth by money limitations, etc. What I'm looking for are comments about our own facilities features that work well, that you would never do again, that you would change, that you would do differently, and what you wish you could have. I want to hear from experience.... What makes your facility work so well or why you pool is the arm pit of pools. Here is an example: I've learned from one pool that they should have built a permanent wall between their lap pool and their zero depth entry rec. pool. The building is so noisy they can barely run a meet if people are in the recreation pool. Don't leave anything untouched (pool size, deck space, configuration, locker rooms, office space, outdoor facilities, observation seating, etc.) Our initial plan is to build a 50 meter indoor, with adjacent recreation pool, and an outdoor splash area for the hot summers. We are one mile above sea level and our winters go from October to May. I'm hoping all you can help with the things you have all learned from the many years we have been swimming.
Parents
  • Lainey bug, around here we have the opposite problem.....the hydroaerobic people own our pool and keep it WAY too hot. In the meantime, we have high schoolers practicing/competing in 85 degree water and passing out! :( This fallacy that you need to keep the rec pool at 85 degrees is out of control. Temps between 80-83 are suitable and it is possible to actually swim at that temp. If you actually work in the water, it does not need to be 85 or over. It is purely for comfort that it is kept at this temp. I have yet to go to a pool in the US that is multi-purpose that is kept at a temp suitable for swimming. I agree that you must have two pools as everyone else has mentioned. If you are stuck with a single pool, keep it at 76-78 and drive the noodlers out so that swimmers can use it! Swim teams pay to use a pool, noodlers don't. If you have a one of those water park things you can generate a lot of dough by having kiddie birthday parties. THIS IS A MUST - if you have two pools, make sure they are on separate filtration systems. There is nothing worse than having some kid have a blow out in the noodling pool and being forced out of the separate swim pool. I would also suggest a lightning detection system, if that's an issue in your area. These are great for limiting closures except in the case of a storm close by. Make sure to ground everything also.
Reply
  • Lainey bug, around here we have the opposite problem.....the hydroaerobic people own our pool and keep it WAY too hot. In the meantime, we have high schoolers practicing/competing in 85 degree water and passing out! :( This fallacy that you need to keep the rec pool at 85 degrees is out of control. Temps between 80-83 are suitable and it is possible to actually swim at that temp. If you actually work in the water, it does not need to be 85 or over. It is purely for comfort that it is kept at this temp. I have yet to go to a pool in the US that is multi-purpose that is kept at a temp suitable for swimming. I agree that you must have two pools as everyone else has mentioned. If you are stuck with a single pool, keep it at 76-78 and drive the noodlers out so that swimmers can use it! Swim teams pay to use a pool, noodlers don't. If you have a one of those water park things you can generate a lot of dough by having kiddie birthday parties. THIS IS A MUST - if you have two pools, make sure they are on separate filtration systems. There is nothing worse than having some kid have a blow out in the noodling pool and being forced out of the separate swim pool. I would also suggest a lightning detection system, if that's an issue in your area. These are great for limiting closures except in the case of a storm close by. Make sure to ground everything also.
Children
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