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
Former Member
You could do a lot worse than copy some aspects of Ponds Forge in Sheffield, which is where our SC Masters Nationals are held each year, and is where the 1996 World Masters was held:
www.spinsheffield.com/.../2
Some reasons why it is good:
- Diving pit is the same width as the main pool, i.e. 25m, and is used for permanent warm up and swim down during meets.
- The 50m x 25m main pool has a boom that moves along the poolside rather than being raised up and down, so the pool can be split into 2 x 25m x 25m pools. Many 50m pools only split into a 25m and 23m pool. This allows the mens races to take place in one pool and the womens in the other for our SC nationals.
What can be improved:
- Inadequate poolside seating (as opposed to spectator seating). This problem afflicts most pools in the UK, it's often a battle at Masters meets to find somewhere to sit.
- Scoreboard is good but can be hard to read from the far end of the pool.
- Car parking is a bit inadequate.
- Never enough lockers, toilets, showers
- Ideally would have 2 x 50m pools so that clubs can carry on training while competitions are taking place.
You could do a lot worse than copy some aspects of Ponds Forge in Sheffield, which is where our SC Masters Nationals are held each year, and is where the 1996 World Masters was held:
www.spinsheffield.com/.../2
Some reasons why it is good:
- Diving pit is the same width as the main pool, i.e. 25m, and is used for permanent warm up and swim down during meets.
- The 50m x 25m main pool has a boom that moves along the poolside rather than being raised up and down, so the pool can be split into 2 x 25m x 25m pools. Many 50m pools only split into a 25m and 23m pool. This allows the mens races to take place in one pool and the womens in the other for our SC nationals.
What can be improved:
- Inadequate poolside seating (as opposed to spectator seating). This problem afflicts most pools in the UK, it's often a battle at Masters meets to find somewhere to sit.
- Scoreboard is good but can be hard to read from the far end of the pool.
- Car parking is a bit inadequate.
- Never enough lockers, toilets, showers
- Ideally would have 2 x 50m pools so that clubs can carry on training while competitions are taking place.
