Additional swim classes are paying off; staff shooting for 90
percent cost recovery
Morgan Hill – The Aquatics Center is enjoying its best summer profits yet after a disappointing debut three years ago.
“The heat helps a lot,” said manager Angela Papp. “But we’ve also changed a lot of our program scheduling.”
Since opening in 2004, the $12-million facility on Condit Road has struggled to recover its yearly operating costs. When city officials learned last summer the center had operating costs of $358,000 during its first year – recovering just 74 percent of its expenses – city staff vowed to streamline the operation.
The effort appears to be working. More people are signing up for lessons, buying food at the concession stands, shopping at the retail store and ordering monthly memberships.
“The first year was a shot in the dark,” said Papp, who was brought on in February by the Morgan Hill Recreation and Community Services Department to help implement better swim programs. “We didn’t know how many kids would be signing up for each lesson.”
Working with lead swim instructor Jennifer Evans, she helped organize more group lessons during weekdays to meet demand from past summers.
“We saw the demand last year,” Evans said. “We actually drew a map of the facility and said ‘Where can we put the classes so all the pools are used?’ ”
The efficient approach allowed for more classes to be added during each half-hour segment of the schedule. The biggest difference between this year and last year, Papp said, is there are more classes for young children ages 3-5.
“Parents really want their kids to be water safe,” Papp said.
While the final fiscal year 2005-06 numbers are still being tabulated, the center’s computerized bookkeeping system shows that income is up in several categories.
According to figures supplied by the Aquatics Center, the number of people, many of them young children, signed up for swim classes during the summer has jumped from 2,088 in 2005 to 2,543 as of mid July. Revenue for swim classes is up 11 percent, about $14,000 over last year.
Between April 15-July 15, food concessions were up 10 percent over last year and retail sales soared 38 percent. The Aquatics Center was also successful in selling 118 percent more party packages.
“Word of mouth has gotten out,” Papp said.
Watching their 4-year-old son Buddy splash into the arms of his instructor, David and Maria Nash said they think the Aquatics Center will continue to grow in popularity among young parents. Maria said center is an asset to the community even if it isn’t 100 percent cost effective.
“Even if it operates at a loss, it’s still very valuable,” she said, adding her son is in his second year of swim lessons. “It gives kids something to do.”
Papp said the center is on track to recovering about 90 percent of its expenses this year. To further increase profitability during the winter months, she said staff members are considering renting the facility out for scuba diving and kayak classes.
Tony Burchyns covers Morgan Hill for The Times. Reach him at (408) 779-4106 ext. 201 or tb*******@mo*************.com.
