Currently, the Columbia Association is considering a proposal to heat the Dorsey Search pool year round to provide additional pool space during the winter months. I have written previously about this project regarding the phasing of this plan in conjunction with constructing another indoor facility. I am revisiting the subject to explore the universe of users that may use the heated outdoor facility.
I have been doing some research on the popularity of outdoor pools open in the middle of winter, and I have found something interesting. Almost every outdoor pool in the northern part of the country that operates in winter is immediately adjacent to an indoor pool. I say almost every outdoor pool because I believe it is possible that an outdoor pool located at distance from any other facility could be in operation during the winter months. However, I have not been able to find one.
What is important to understand here is that there are two are two general types of swimmers that use a heated outdoor pool during the winter months. The first type of swimmer is those that find a unique pleasure in swimming outdoors when it is cold out. For them, outdoor swimming during winter months is a destination. I have a lot of respect for them and admit there is some romanticism surrounding the experience; taking in cold air to your lungs while moving through warm water. Snow falling on the pool as water vapor rises. Although it may not be for everyone, it sure sounds great. These folks would certainly patronize this pool regardless of location.
The second group of swimmers (once again, speaking generally) that swim outside are what I call “choice swimmers.” These folks are dedicated aquatics users. They come to the pool year round for exercise and fitness, but they do not share the zeal of the outdoor minded destination swimmers. However, when confronted with a crowded indoor pool and an adjacent heated outdoor pool, some swimmers will choose to venture outdoors. In addition to the number of swimmers in the indoor pool, the choice swimmer also makes this calculation based on outside temperature. More will venture outside on 55 F days than 24 deg F days. The central point here is the notion of convenience. If the indoor pool and heated outdoor pool are co-located, the choice swimmer contributes to the use of the heated outdoor pool. If the heated outdoor pool is distant from the indoor pool, the choice swimmer rarely will pack up and drive to another facility.
So taken together, the destination swimmer and the choice swimmer comprise the majority of potential users of a heated outdoor pool during the winter months. As to the mix of destination/choice swimmers, I do not have any direct data on this. I also don’t know who else would have this data, other than the entities that already operate outdoor pools year round. But my hunch is that the destination swimmer universe is smaller than the choice simmer universe, and although the destination swimmers may make more trips to the heated outdoor pool, their total attendance numbers will be less than the choice swimmers.
I base this on my experience as part of the Columbia Association Aquatics Master Plan Task Force. This task force looked at CA Aquatics in depth and was comprised of about two-dozen Columbia residents that love the CA Pools. Many of these participants were dedicated lap swimmers and participated in masters swimming. The minutes may prove me wrong, but over a year of discussion (including several open house meetings and CA Board meetings), I do not recall heating an outdoor pool throughout the winter was ever mentioned. I do know for certain that it was not discussed at any great length. Therefore, the heated outdoor pool destination swimmers would initially be those residents that always thought it would be a great idea to swim outdoors in the winter, but never actually voiced that opinion.
So if the initial success of the heated outdoor pool is dependent on both types of swimmers and the heated pool is located in Dorsey Search, the choice swimmers will not be there. This is the fundamental concern I have with heating the Dorsey Search pool. I believe the target population is small and the goal of alleviating overcrowding at the indoor pools will fall short.
I have been doing some research on the popularity of outdoor pools open in the middle of winter, and I have found something interesting. Almost every outdoor pool in the northern part of the country that operates in winter is immediately adjacent to an indoor pool. I say almost every outdoor pool because I believe it is possible that an outdoor pool located at distance from any other facility could be in operation during the winter months. However, I have not been able to find one.
What is important to understand here is that there are two are two general types of swimmers that use a heated outdoor pool during the winter months. The first type of swimmer is those that find a unique pleasure in swimming outdoors when it is cold out. For them, outdoor swimming during winter months is a destination. I have a lot of respect for them and admit there is some romanticism surrounding the experience; taking in cold air to your lungs while moving through warm water. Snow falling on the pool as water vapor rises. Although it may not be for everyone, it sure sounds great. These folks would certainly patronize this pool regardless of location.
The second group of swimmers (once again, speaking generally) that swim outside are what I call “choice swimmers.” These folks are dedicated aquatics users. They come to the pool year round for exercise and fitness, but they do not share the zeal of the outdoor minded destination swimmers. However, when confronted with a crowded indoor pool and an adjacent heated outdoor pool, some swimmers will choose to venture outdoors. In addition to the number of swimmers in the indoor pool, the choice swimmer also makes this calculation based on outside temperature. More will venture outside on 55 F days than 24 deg F days. The central point here is the notion of convenience. If the indoor pool and heated outdoor pool are co-located, the choice swimmer contributes to the use of the heated outdoor pool. If the heated outdoor pool is distant from the indoor pool, the choice swimmer rarely will pack up and drive to another facility.
So taken together, the destination swimmer and the choice swimmer comprise the majority of potential users of a heated outdoor pool during the winter months. As to the mix of destination/choice swimmers, I do not have any direct data on this. I also don’t know who else would have this data, other than the entities that already operate outdoor pools year round. But my hunch is that the destination swimmer universe is smaller than the choice simmer universe, and although the destination swimmers may make more trips to the heated outdoor pool, their total attendance numbers will be less than the choice swimmers.
I base this on my experience as part of the Columbia Association Aquatics Master Plan Task Force. This task force looked at CA Aquatics in depth and was comprised of about two-dozen Columbia residents that love the CA Pools. Many of these participants were dedicated lap swimmers and participated in masters swimming. The minutes may prove me wrong, but over a year of discussion (including several open house meetings and CA Board meetings), I do not recall heating an outdoor pool throughout the winter was ever mentioned. I do know for certain that it was not discussed at any great length. Therefore, the heated outdoor pool destination swimmers would initially be those residents that always thought it would be a great idea to swim outdoors in the winter, but never actually voiced that opinion.
So if the initial success of the heated outdoor pool is dependent on both types of swimmers and the heated pool is located in Dorsey Search, the choice swimmers will not be there. This is the fundamental concern I have with heating the Dorsey Search pool. I believe the target population is small and the goal of alleviating overcrowding at the indoor pools will fall short.