How popular is Hot Water? It might be as popular as some of the least popular aquatics facilities in Columbia.
In re-reading some of the news coverage of the heated Dorsey Search pool, I found an interesting statistic that caught my eye. At the end of the July 2nd Explore Howard article (Dorsey’s Search backs heating Columbia outdoor pool year-round), reporter Luke Lavoie quotes the manager of the Silver Spring YMCA as follows:
In re-reading some of the news coverage of the heated Dorsey Search pool, I found an interesting statistic that caught my eye. At the end of the July 2nd Explore Howard article (Dorsey’s Search backs heating Columbia outdoor pool year-round), reporter Luke Lavoie quotes the manager of the Silver Spring YMCA as follows:
In addition to site visits to outdoor pools in Denver, Colo., CA staff said they have interviewed officials from the YMCA in Silver Spring, which has one of the two heated year-round outdoor pools in the state.
Joshua Smith, Aquatics Director at the YMCA in Silver Spring, said their pool sees between 25-50 swimmers a day during the winter months.
"It's very popular. If we took it away our members would be furious," said Smith.
What brought me back to this news article was that I recently listened to the June 27, 2013 CA Board of Directors podcast, and CA staff stated the pool usage rate at the Silver Spring YMCA was 75-100 people per day.
But First, A Few Caveats
In discussing the referenced YMCA data, a few issues exist. The first is the discrepancy in the reported data. During the 27JUN13 CA Board meeting, CA Staff put forth a Silver Spring daily attendance number that was twice that quoted on the Explore Howard website. I don’t have a big problem with this. Two people may ask the same general question in slightly different ways – this can result in error. To compensate for this, I will use both ranges in my analysis below.
Secondly, although Columbia and Silver Spring are generally close in population, it is not known what the swimming population in Silver Spring is, and how that compares to Columbia. Moreover, the Silver Spring YMCA capture percentage of local swimmers may not be the same as the CA facilities capture percentage in Columbia. Going forward, I will use the Silver Spring YMCA numbers as a basis for analysis, but the reader should keep in mind that this is a first estimate. The numbers will have to be further refined to approach a true “apples to apples” comparison.
Third, the physical layout of all the pools discussed here are unique. As best as I can tell, the Silver Spring YMCA is a six-lane outdoor pool. I have no idea if there is a baby pool associated with the facility. Dorsey’s Search and Talbott Springs are eight-lane pools. Faulkner Ridge is a six lane pool. The Columbia Swim Center main pool is a six lane pool. In addition, the Columbia Swim Center pool water is heated and requires additional pumps to operate when Splashdown is in service. All of the Columbia pools feature baby pools that are physically separate from the main pool, but are considered part of the same pool with respect to utilities (electricity, water, gas).
Lastly, we are talking about averages. I am certain there have been days in the middle of winter when the Silver Spring YMCA had a very crowded outdoor pool. I also believe there may have been days when only a handful of people ventured outdoors. Averages have two effects; they tend to skew toward the middle (yes, that is why it is an average), but this also creates an expectation that on any given day the average is the norm. That most likely is not the case.
Back to the Story
I wanted to benchmark the Silver Spring YMCA daily attendance against CA’s current aquatics facilities. For instance, Talbott Springs pool has consistently had the lowest attendance of all the Columbia outdoor pools. For the years 2006-2010, Talbott Springs average attendance was 5,817 visits a summer. During that same time period, the pool was open an average of 71 days/season. This gives an average daily attendance of 81 people per day. Similarly, Faulkner Ridge pool had an average attendance of 10,381 per summer from 2006-2010. This pool was open, on average, 74 days/season. This gives an average daily attendance of 140 people per day. The Columbia Association considers these attendance figures low and has put forward the idea of closing these pools more than once. Recall that the Silver Spring YMCA heated outdoor pool daily attendance (winter) was quoted as either 25-50 people per day or 75-100 people per day. Faulkner Ridge attendance clearly outperforms the YMCA and Talbott Springs daily attendance falls within the same upper range of the YMCA.
Similarly, the Columbia Association has made the point that the Columbia Swim Center Splashdown water slide is not as popular as it used to be. In FY 2007, CA data indicates the water slide had an attendance of 13,200. In FY 2011, that attendance figure dropped to 7,080. Assuming the water slide was open Saturdays and Sundays from October 2011 to May 2012, the operating season was 59 days. Once again doing the math, 7,080 visits over 59 days gives an average daily attendance of 120 people per day.
Conclusion
In an effort to quantify swimmer demand for a heating Dorsey’s Search pool during the winter months, CA staff reached out to the Silver Spring YMCA. They have operated an outdoor pool during the winter months for some time. The Silver Spring YMCA quoted a daily attendance of either 25-50 people/day or 75-100 people/day, and characterized this as well attended. I believe these attendance numbers are in line with the Silver Spring YMCA expectations and business model. However, this level of attendance/participation at other Columbia Association aquatics facilities has been deemed problematic for continued operations.
Although the correlation between the Silver Spring YMCA and any future heated outdoor pool for winter use in Columbia is not exact, CA should pay attention to these numbers. If this data bears out, the expenditure of more than $450,000 to heat Dorsey’s Search pool, and monthly operating costs that exceed the costs to operate more well attended venues like Talbott Springs pool, Faulkner Ridge pool, and the Columbia Swim Center Splashdown would be fiscally unwise.
hocoblogs@@@
But First, A Few Caveats
In discussing the referenced YMCA data, a few issues exist. The first is the discrepancy in the reported data. During the 27JUN13 CA Board meeting, CA Staff put forth a Silver Spring daily attendance number that was twice that quoted on the Explore Howard website. I don’t have a big problem with this. Two people may ask the same general question in slightly different ways – this can result in error. To compensate for this, I will use both ranges in my analysis below.
Secondly, although Columbia and Silver Spring are generally close in population, it is not known what the swimming population in Silver Spring is, and how that compares to Columbia. Moreover, the Silver Spring YMCA capture percentage of local swimmers may not be the same as the CA facilities capture percentage in Columbia. Going forward, I will use the Silver Spring YMCA numbers as a basis for analysis, but the reader should keep in mind that this is a first estimate. The numbers will have to be further refined to approach a true “apples to apples” comparison.
Third, the physical layout of all the pools discussed here are unique. As best as I can tell, the Silver Spring YMCA is a six-lane outdoor pool. I have no idea if there is a baby pool associated with the facility. Dorsey’s Search and Talbott Springs are eight-lane pools. Faulkner Ridge is a six lane pool. The Columbia Swim Center main pool is a six lane pool. In addition, the Columbia Swim Center pool water is heated and requires additional pumps to operate when Splashdown is in service. All of the Columbia pools feature baby pools that are physically separate from the main pool, but are considered part of the same pool with respect to utilities (electricity, water, gas).
Lastly, we are talking about averages. I am certain there have been days in the middle of winter when the Silver Spring YMCA had a very crowded outdoor pool. I also believe there may have been days when only a handful of people ventured outdoors. Averages have two effects; they tend to skew toward the middle (yes, that is why it is an average), but this also creates an expectation that on any given day the average is the norm. That most likely is not the case.
Back to the Story
I wanted to benchmark the Silver Spring YMCA daily attendance against CA’s current aquatics facilities. For instance, Talbott Springs pool has consistently had the lowest attendance of all the Columbia outdoor pools. For the years 2006-2010, Talbott Springs average attendance was 5,817 visits a summer. During that same time period, the pool was open an average of 71 days/season. This gives an average daily attendance of 81 people per day. Similarly, Faulkner Ridge pool had an average attendance of 10,381 per summer from 2006-2010. This pool was open, on average, 74 days/season. This gives an average daily attendance of 140 people per day. The Columbia Association considers these attendance figures low and has put forward the idea of closing these pools more than once. Recall that the Silver Spring YMCA heated outdoor pool daily attendance (winter) was quoted as either 25-50 people per day or 75-100 people per day. Faulkner Ridge attendance clearly outperforms the YMCA and Talbott Springs daily attendance falls within the same upper range of the YMCA.
Similarly, the Columbia Association has made the point that the Columbia Swim Center Splashdown water slide is not as popular as it used to be. In FY 2007, CA data indicates the water slide had an attendance of 13,200. In FY 2011, that attendance figure dropped to 7,080. Assuming the water slide was open Saturdays and Sundays from October 2011 to May 2012, the operating season was 59 days. Once again doing the math, 7,080 visits over 59 days gives an average daily attendance of 120 people per day.
Conclusion
In an effort to quantify swimmer demand for a heating Dorsey’s Search pool during the winter months, CA staff reached out to the Silver Spring YMCA. They have operated an outdoor pool during the winter months for some time. The Silver Spring YMCA quoted a daily attendance of either 25-50 people/day or 75-100 people/day, and characterized this as well attended. I believe these attendance numbers are in line with the Silver Spring YMCA expectations and business model. However, this level of attendance/participation at other Columbia Association aquatics facilities has been deemed problematic for continued operations.
Although the correlation between the Silver Spring YMCA and any future heated outdoor pool for winter use in Columbia is not exact, CA should pay attention to these numbers. If this data bears out, the expenditure of more than $450,000 to heat Dorsey’s Search pool, and monthly operating costs that exceed the costs to operate more well attended venues like Talbott Springs pool, Faulkner Ridge pool, and the Columbia Swim Center Splashdown would be fiscally unwise.
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