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SUMMARY
OF THE
“FOCUS ON AQUATICS” PUBLIC HEARINGS - 2001
• Tuesday,
May 8, 7-8:30pm at College Twp. Building
• Wednesday, May 9, 10-11:30am at Ferguson Twp. Building
1. Welcome
and IntroductionsVolunteer Members of the Aquatics Task Force:
Dr.
Rick Marboe, Chairperson Member,
Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Cindy
Solic Member,
Centre Regional Recreation Authority
Dr.
Tom Griffiths Director,
PSU Aquatics
Dennis
Ditmer Executive
Director, S.C. Area Family YMCA
Tim
Pfeuffer SCASD
Aquatics Supervisor
Consultants:
Judith
Leblein Water
Technology Inc.
Kelly
Harris, RLA Hoffman & Popovich
Architects, LLC.
2. Overview
of the Centre Region Aquatics Feasibility Study by Dr. Marboe
(5/8) and Mr. Woodhead (5/9)The study is exploring if and how
the existing public pools and programs should be updated, and
also if a third community pool should be considered. The study
is being funded by five of the COG municipalities, the PA.
Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the State
College Area Family YMCA. Additional information about the
Aquatics Feasibility Study is available at the CRPR: www.CentreConnect.org/crpr
3. Nationwide
Trendsin Public Aquaticsby
Ms. LebleinSlides were presented showing a new dimension in
aquatic facilities. Ms. Leblein talked about the process of
program development, basic design consideration, site design
consideration, and transforming an existing facility. The focus
of the new parks is on family recreation. All of the facilities
shown were municipal pools. The slides encompassed water slides,
pools, lazy rivers, water interactive areas, deck areas, sun/turf
berm, shade, sand play, sand volleyball, concessions, entry/change
facilities, and mechanicals.
4. Comments & Questions
FromResidents moderated
by Dr. Marboe or Ms. LebleinSome questions that were presented
by Mr. Woodhead at the beginning of this comments and questions
session were: - Are the aquatic needs being met in the Centre
Region? Do residents have access to adequate aquatic facilities?
- What do our community pools do right? Should the community pools be improved?
If so, how?
- Should a third community aquatic facility be considered? If so, what
type and at what location?
May
8 Comments:
1) Attendee:
Mr. Alvi Voigt indicated he felt overwhelmed by what he had
seen. He uses the pool to lap swim and was concerned that there
wouldn’t be a place to swim laps. He also was concerned
because he sees the pools being crowded only on the very hot
days. He asked about the funding used now for the pools. Member
of Task Force: There will be space for lap swim. Fund
to operate the are received from customers (60%) and from the
municipalities (40%).Attendee: He
also questioned if a projection had been made of unmet needs
to the costs. He questioned whether a new recreational facility
would be popular enough to draw people to swim (in view of
all the private pools in the area).Member
of Task Force: A projection of unmet needs to cost has
not been completed yet as the task force is still gathering
information. Family aquatic centers in other areas have been
very popular even where traditional pools and private pools
are available.
2) Attendee: Ms.
Vivian Baumer questioned whether the facility would be an indoor
facility so there could be more swimming year round. She also
wondered if the rest of the population would prefer an indoor
facility.Member of Task Force:
Mr. Griffiths indicated that preliminarily it appears that
we will be looking at an outdoor facility because the YMCA
is planning on building an indoor facility. At the beginning
of the study, it appeared that PSU would build a new indoor
facility, but the indications are that money is not available
for an indoor facility at the University. Mr. Ditmer related
that the YMCA would be starting a feasibility study next week.
They have preformed a needs assessment that established a need
for an indoor facility. They have also performed a marketing
study that shows the finances are there. They are looking at
a cool water, competitive pool and they are also looking at
a warm water, therapeutic pool.Attendee: Ms.
Baumer stated that she thinks a lot of families would go to
the newer facility with a combination of functions.Water
Technology: Ms. Leblein related that competitive and
lap swimming would always be prevalent in any new design but
would combine all the functions instead of isolating them.Task
Force Member: Dr. Marboe commented that the reason the
pools appear crowed most of the time is that almost everyone
is trying to use the shallow end. The task force and community
needs to think about the needs that are going unmet. Each facility
both public and private is meeting the needs of some portion
of the population. The task force must look to the future and
the aquatic recreational needs of everyone.Task
Force Member: Dr. Griffiths asked if a leisure pool
was built, will it recover significantly more than 50% and
the more traditional facilities recover less than 50%?
3) Mr.
Woodhead presented an email sent to him by Rayne Dennison.
The email is from a resident who lives here and who uses both
the Park Forest and Welch pools as well as other publicly and
privately owned pools in the area. Although University personnel
who could swim at the University, they chose to swim elsewhere
and were critical of the personnel, quality of instruction,
and cost. Recognizing that the current outdoor facilities are
old, they still question whether the area needs another facility
that will drive up costs and make swimming costs even more
noncompetitive so that less people can enjoy swimming in the
pools.
May
9 comments:
1) Attendee: Peggy
Reed was concerned with the air and water quality at the Athletic
Club because her girls were experiencing problems.Task
Force Member: Dr. Griffiths indicated that some newer
energy efficient facilities are experiencing problems with
the air quality. He explained how the water and air systems
work and the pool requirementstomeet health and safety rules.
2) Attendee: Tom
Daubert related that he was a 30 year season ticket holder
to Centre Region Parks and Recreation pools. He indicated that
one of the things he thought should be changed at Welch is
that there is no place to learn how to dive there from the
sides of the pool. You can’t learn by diving off the
board and you are not allowed to dive off the side at the Welch
pool. He was excited about the facilities he saw in the slide
presentation and thought the task force was on the right track.
Water
Technology Inc.: Ms. Leblein stated that she would
not be comfortable with people diving off the side at Welch
pool due to the ledge built in the pool under the water.
People diving would not realize the risk and could easily
hit the ledge causing injury.
5. Adjournment May
8 meeting adjourned at 8:12 pm; May 9 meeting adjourned
at 10:55 am
Two
outdoor swimming pools are operated by Centre Region Parks & Recreation,
an agency of the Centre Region Council of Governments:
Park
Forest Community Swimming Pool, located at 2100 School
Drive in Patton Township, was opened in 1970 and renovated
in 1991. During 2000, Park Forest Pool hosted 14,935 recreational
visits during the 100-day season (does not include lessons
or swim team uses).
Wm
L. Welch Community Swimming Pool, located at 670 Westerly
Parkway in State College, was opened in 1959 and renovated
in 1982. The water slide was added in 1987. During the 100-day
summer 2000 season, Welch Pool hosted 31,120 recreational
visits (does not include lessons or swim team uses).CRPR
also rents the use of the SCAHS Natatorium to provide community
aquatic programs year-round.Meeting summaries prepared by
Diane Ishler, CRPR Senior Secretary
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