Award Winning Crystal Lake Pool:
Good Management Keeps Crowds Coming

One of the best facilities in the Midwest, the pool serves as a model for other agencies to emulate.

By Gene D. Sanks

The Urbana Park District's new Crystal Lake Pool replaced a 53-year-old oval pool. The new pool is in its fourth season and has never operated in the red since opening. The 450,000 gallon pool was built at a cost of $779,000. The entire renovation — pool, bathhouse and parking lot — exceeded 1.5 million dollars. Financing was primarily by Park District bond monies with grants from LAWCON and UPARR totaling $350,000.

Does the pool show a profit? Indeed it does. An itemized budget allows us to show the pool's total costs, including overhead. The first three season's records reveal the pool not only met operating expenses, but it had a handsome five figure profit. This profit is carried over and used for pool improvements and repair.

We plan to continue this practice and therefore prevent a "run down" appearance that plagues many pools.

We attribute economic success to several factors: good programming, modern technology, high level maintenance, good design, and a supportive community. Average daily attendance has been 900 people. For this summer we anticipate total revenues of $72,000.

The heart of the mechanical system is a Filtrex regenerative filter supplied by the Halogen Supply Co. Inc. of Chicago. A Stranco chlorine and pH analyzer also supplied by Halogen complements the filter. These two items are greatly responsible for our success. The Filtrex filter is backwashed only once per season saving countless dollars. Conventional filters are backwashed every seven to ten days and require thousands of gallons of filtered water and large quantities of diatomite to complete the backwash. The Stranco unit constantly monitors the chlorine and pH of the pool water. Adjustments are made automatically, thus eliminating human guesswork and waste of materials. Make up water is also added automatically by means of a solenoid valve, again eliminating guesswork. These three features have a short payback period by eliminating waste of treated water, diatomite, make up water and labor.

Other noteworthy features include a rimflow gutter system and easily accessible circulation plumbing. The rimflow gutter brings the water surface to the top of the coping stones. This enables the pool to constantly skim itself. This system also allows the handicapped easier access to the pool. All circulation plumbing is contained in the surge trench located below the coping stones. Removable coping stones permit easy inspection and repair of pipes. Older pools have their plumbing buried under the concrete decking. When repair of this older design is required, decks must be broken out and then replaced after repairs are completed.

Additional amenities that add to the appeal of Crystal Lake Pool include: turf volleyball court, shuffle-board courts, reflection pool and gazebo, children's play sculpture, ample landscaping, large turf areas for sunbathing, children's pool, div-

Illinois Parks and Recreation 17 July/August 1983

ing boards, and comfortable deck furniture. These amenities provide the public many activities to enjoy when they visit our pool. A Park District operated concession stand is conveniently located near the bath-house.

A pool does not run itself. We make a concerted effort to hire and train the best staff we can. Poor staff can ruin a pool's reputation and operation. We strive to maintain our good reputation.

All maintenance at the pool is done in a first class manner. Nothing is allowed to slide by. The pool complex is among our top priorities and repairs are made quickly. We want the public to perceive the pool as a clean, safe, and well maintained facility. We feel this approach will maintain public attendance and enhance a positive image of the Park District.

"We attribute economic success to several factors: good programming, modern technology, high level maintenance, good design, and a supportive community."

Programming at Crystal Lake Pool has enjoyed good success. In addition to the usual offerings of open swimming and classes, poolside ballroom dances, teen oriented dances, competitive swimming, scuba diving, and adult only swimming sessions have helped the pool's popularity. We sincerely try to accommodate the public's desires. We feel the Park District's responsiveness to the public has been beneficial. The Urbana Park District enjoys a unique relationship with the Champaign Park District. A reciprocal agreement allows a passholder from either District to use all municipal swimming pools in Urbana and Champaign. We find this arrangement mutually beneficial.

The Park District considers itself very fortunate to have engaged the architectural services of Unteed, Scaggs, Fritch, Nelson, Ltd. of Champaign. The firm's experience and professional approach made the Crystal Lake Pool a reality. General contractor for the pool was English Brothers Construction Co. of Champaign.

Reflecting Pool and Gazebo at Crystal Lake Pool.

The new Crystal Lake Pool received the top award in the 1980 Competition for Outstanding Pool Design. Commercial Division. The award was presented by the Midwest Chapter, National Swimming Pool Institute. The pool complex serves as a model for several pool supply companies and is visited regularly by other agencies that are renovating an old pool or building a new one.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Gene Sanks is currently Superintendent of Operations for the Urbana Park District. He received an M.S. in Ornamental Horticulture from the University of Illinois in 1971, and has been with the Park District for the last five years.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 18 July/August 1983