Should Your Aquatics Facility Invest in a Renovation?

In today’s period of rapid change and growth, it’s wise to consider whether your aquatics facility is ripe for an update, big or small.

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During the National Recreation and Parks Association show last month, a man stopped by our booth and introduced himself. He was the aquatics director for a community parks and recreation department and, while he currently managed four facilities, his community had another six pools that were closed.

They were old pools, he said, but there was enough growth in his community to justify the funds to open at least two of the defunct pools. Hallelujah! The more pools the merrier, right?

Actually, he didn’t want to reopen these old pools at all. They were small, no larger than the typical backyard pool and held little appeal for today’s pool patrons. Instead, he wanted to use the money to build up two of the already functioning facilities into true aquatic powerhouses, with modern facility updates and additional programming to attract all members of the community.

This made complete sense from every perspective, from programming to staffing to operations — it’s just the smart thing to do.

And it looks as if many others are thinking the same way. In this month’s cover feature, “The Renovation Equation,” Rebecca Robledo offers practical guidance for those thinking of or perhaps even in the beginning phases of renovation.

One interesting point from the story is the concept of functional obsolescence, which is a term used when “features and spaces no longer adequately serve the community.” In today’s period of rapid change and growth, it’s wise to consider whether your facility is ripe for an update, big or small.

About the Author

Joanne McClain

Joanne McClain is editor-in-chief of Pool & Spa News and Aquatics International magazines. She was born and raised in Hawaii, where she grew to appreciate the beauty and safety of swimming pools after a hair-raising encounter with a moray eel while snorkeling as a child. Joanne lives in Los Angeles with her husband and son.

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