The Lisle Park District was faced with a problem common to public agencies nationwide; how to serve the community's need to enjoy the nation's favorite leisure time activity — swimming. According to recent A. C. Neilsen studies, swimming is the most popular leisure time activity in the United States with fifty-four (54%) percent of the population participating annually.

Despite the popularity of swimming, most traditional public pools are poorly attended, are not being used by adults, and have limited family participation. Traditional pools are characterized by a dominance of deep water, narrow concrete decks surrounded by chainlink fencing and are usually very unattractive to the eye. They normally offer limited opportunities for the user beyond sitting in the sun or standing in the water. Little swimming or water activity actually takes place. When it does, the user is participating in a crowded atmosphere which detracts from their leisurely enjoyment of the activity.

A spherical-spray fountain showers hundreds of gallons of water on people below.

We heard over and over from Lisle swimmers how overcrowded our traditional pool was and how we needed to build a second pool. Careful review of attendance figures showed that we were using less than thirty-five (35%) percent of our bather load capacity, yet complaints of "too crowded to enjoy" kept coming. We had to choose between adding a second pool and/or revitalizing the existing pool. We were reluctant to invest in a second pool similar to the old one. In the long run we were taking the same number of swimmers, dispersing them between two pools, but gaining no new activity opportunities.

Revitalization Plans Focus on Increased Activities

Activity opportunity was the key to moving forward with the revitalization of the existing pool. Leisure Concepts and Design, Inc., a Chicago area consulting firm which specializes in the development and revitalization of community aquatic facilities helped develop a plan to revitalize the existing pool into a family activity-oriented aquatic center. This revitalization plan was based on four broad objectives:

• To attract greater youth, adult and family participation.
• To increase attendance and be financially self-supporting.
• To satisfy a broad range of aquatic interest for all ages.
• To be attractive, exciting, safe and a quality leisure experience.

President James Colley of the National Recreation and Park Association (center) recently presented the National Excellence in Aquatics Award to tour communities at the NRPA 1989 Swimming Pool and Aquatic Conference held March 3-8 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Pictured above are (left to right): Steve Hartman, Director of Parks and Recreation, Lisle Park District, Lisle, Illinois; Ron Pies, Community Services Director, Tempe Community Services Department, Tempe, Arizona; NRPA President, James Colley; Jim Armstrong, Aquatic Recreation Supervisor, Johnson County Park and Recreation District, Shawnee Mission, Kansas; and J.E. Doughney, Director, City of Coral Springs, Coral Springs, Florida.

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Aquatic Center (Continued from page 7) ————————————————

The end product is not a traditional swimming pool or a water park, but rather a "Family Aquatic Center" in a noncommercial atmosphere. Sea Lion Aquatic Park provides challenging leisure opportunities for today's sophisticated user. The Family Aquatic Center provides an array of new outdoor experiences and activities in an aquatic environment.

Curtains of water refresh swimmers at the foot of the waterfall, part of a large aquatic play area created from artificial rock.

Non-Traditional Design Enhances Attractiveness

Many features distinguish the Family Aquatic Center from the traditional pool. A reduction of user density has been accomplished by expanding the enclosed area. The scarcely visible perimeter fence now contains an entire park-like area instead of simply confining the pool deck edge.

Within this park-like area the Family Aquatic Center provides multiple attractions: zero depth water, dual flume water slides, water playgrounds, a large waterfall play area created from artificial rock formations, tot water slide with water play jets in the deck, a spherical fountain feature which pours hundreds of gallons of water on the people below, two high rock drop-off slides, wet sand play area, and sand volleyball. Our "adults only" deck area offers three spa pools. Expansive decks lined with chaise lounge chairs accommodate "high traffic" days. Twenty-five (25%) percent of the area is now cultivated turf with attractive landscaping.

Let The Record Speak For Itself

In 1988, its first year as a revitalized swimming pool facility, the complex experienced dramatic and immediate increases in attendance and revenues. Consider these facts:

• Attendance went from 25,948 in 1987 to 84,148 in 1988 — a three hundred (300%) percent increase! The new complex surpassed annual attendance of any previous years within the first month of operation.

• The 1988 net profit was $47,000 after failing to break even in any of the previous years of operation.

• 1988 saw a marked increase in the use of the complex by families as a unit, including teenagers and fathers who did not previously attend the old traditional pool. Lisle residents, through increased and consistent attendance, have demonstrated their approval of this new and creatively-designed facility. Our main objective was to better serve our community. The Family Aquatic Center embodies our commitment and accomplishment of that objective.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Steve Hartman is the Director of Parks and Recreation for the Lisle Park District.

Revitalized Sea Lion Park drew an unprecedented 300% attendance increase, surpassing any previous years' attendance record in its first month of operation!