By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Sledders have rubbed Conneaut Hill raw this week – and come summer those same kids will be clamoring to do cannonballs at city pool.
So Tuesday evening, the Bowling Green Parks and Recreation Board talked about possible fee hikes this summer to keep the pool and youth programs afloat.
Parks and Recreation Director Kristin Otley reported to the board that increased costs are expected due to the 50 cent hike in minimum wage, and the rising costs of supplies.
Ivan Kovacevic, program coordinator, explained the trends experienced at the pool in the last few years – excluding 2020 when the pool was closed due to COVID restrictions. Some of the trends noticed are:
- Season pass users have dropped from 26,771 in 2018, to 18,774 in 2019, then 16,142 in 2021. The drop last year was expected due to COVID concerns.
- Daily users have dropped from 21,164 in 2018, to 20,653 in 2019, then 16,786 in 2021. The number of people coming in on daily passes varies greatly depending on the weather.
- The total visitors went from 47,935 in 2018, to 39,427 in 2019, then 32,928 in 2021.
- Revenue from swimming lessons increased last year, as parents tried to make up for the lost year of swimming classes when the pool was closed in 2020.
- Revenue from concessions increased last year.
- Meanwhile the expenses for administration and maintenance salaries, and concession supplies increased in 2021.
The total revenues at the pool last summer were $309,284, compared to the expenses of $329,099.
“Our supply costs are going up every year, and our staff costs are going up every year,” Otley said.
The last time pool pass rates were increased was in 2019, when the board decided to hike the daily admission for non-residents by 50 cents, the season passes for residents by $5, and the season passes for non-residents by $6, Otley said.
The current daily passes for residents are $3.75 for children, $5.50 for youth, and $6 for adults.
The pool rates are normally considered when costs increase, Otley said.
“We try to look at it every few years, so it’s modest,” she said of possible price hikes. A program is already in place to help families unable to afford the pool rates, and a “splash fund” was created last year to offer additional help to local families.
Otley agreed to bring some rate options for the board to review at next month’s meeting. Any rate hikes will also have to be approved by City Council.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting:
- Mayor Mike Aspacher introduced the new City Council member Nick Rubando to the park and recreation board. Rubando, who is chair of council’s parks and recreation board, has been an employee of the Toledo Metroparks since 2018. “I’m an advocate of the parks,” Rubando said to the board. “I appreciate all you do.”
- Park board president Jodi Anderson announced that more than $21,000 was raised at the Park Foundation’s “Party for the Parks” fundraiser. That amount is a testament to how much the community cares about its parks, she said.
- Natural Resources Coordinator Chris Gajewicz showed the board one of the 30 new signs to be posted in parks with a QR code that allows people to donate to the parks as they are using them. “This is a really easy way for people to give,” Gajewicz said.
- Otley reported that advertising has already begun for seasonal hirings, with difficulties expected in finding staff for summer camps and summer maintenance.
- Gajewicz said the parks staff is working on creating new maps for Wintergarden Park and Simpson Garden Park.
