This could be us...
Elkhart is one of our Best In Class examples of a public/private partnership between a community foundation, school district & healthcare provider.
They shared the vision for a world-class facility.
Elkhart’s project manager Insight Strategic Concepts has been a close advisor & we share the same aquatics consultant Isaac Sports Group!
“I am excited for our community and for all the families in our area. There is not a community aquatics facility in our region that exists at this level of offering training, competition, learning programs and leisure facilities for our local athletes and families.”
Rob Haworth
Superintendent of Elkhart Community Schools
Aquatics Facility Research
SPLASHForward sees the great potential for any new public facility in our region to be a regional and national aquatics leader through best practices and innovative ideas. We must learn from those who have gone before us and bring that knowledge to bear on our efforts. We have conducted in depth analysis on local and national aquatics facilities to develop ‘Best In Class’ case studies and criteria. Our purpose is to educate and inform those involved so that the best decisions, designs and practices are followed.
Through curious and analytical research, SPLASHForward has developed deep knowledge in our region’s aquatics state of affairs. Through surveys, meetings and site visits, SPLASHForward has developed local facility research, national ‘Best In Class’ case studies, ‘Best In Class’ criteria and preliminary program models for the Bellevue School District and a regional aquatics facility.
In January of 2019, SPLASHForward hired an independant aquatics consultant Isaac Sports Group to build a comprehensive regional analysis of our community’s aquatic needs for ALL age groups, ALL abilities and ALL backgrounds. This work is underway and we are sharing with the City of Bellevue, the Bellevue School District, King County Regional Aquatics Group and future partners.
Our Best In Class Criteria
Broad Community Program, Access and Involvement
- Meets the aquatics needs of recreational, competitive and therapeutic constituents across the widest range of ages and abilities.
- Community Outreach Programming that gives back and invests.
- Multi – Generational
- Affordable to Public for Access
- Community Pride.
Financially Sustainable
- Programming and Event Model that optimizes for revenue and community growth.
- Renewable revenue stream to support facility maintenance & operations.
Effective Public/Private Partnerships
- Developed in conjunction with programming and facility design.
- Ongoing sponsorships and partnerships within community.
Operationally Efficient
- Manages high costs of facility with low loss and annual revenue growth.
- Optimized economic impact through planned event capacity & programming
State of the Art Facility Design
- Technically at forefront in aquatics facility and maintenance.
- Contextually sensitive to environment, demographics, and location.
National Best In Class Examples
Programming: Community Wellness – Serves recreation, fitness, therapy, Learn to Swim, competition, training; All age groups & abilities
Community Connection – Combines community center meeting and function spaces with community recreation, fitness and aquatic programming; Universal access – membership in Beacon Health Fitness Center not required
Design Elements: Breadth of Aquatic Facility – leisure, recreation, warm water therapy, competition
Competition: State of the Art flexible competitive facility
Operationally Efficient – Operating endowment included in privately funded portion of capital costs
Partnerships – Community Foundation, Healthcare Partner, School District
Economic Impact – $4.72 M / yr (based on full event calendar by 3yrs)
o Projection of $2.9M annual revenue
o Attract 20+ regional scale meets a yr. (wknds)
o 36,000 annual visitors
o 16,350/yr Hotel Room Nights
o Jobs: $9.5M in Wages & Salaries over initial 5yrs
Community Connection: Serves majority of local youth aquatics which has exploded in area; Learn to Swim and Make-A-Splash supporting low income; Scholarships; Strong bridge programming for non-competitive youth
Competition Venue: Regional Scale
Management & Ownership: Private owned & operated facility with $4.3M revenue and $4.4M operating expenses. 3 largest revenue generators: 1. Titan Year Round Swim Team ($2.2M), 2. TAC Programs (Swim Academy, Private Lessons, LG Classes, Birthday Parties ($625K), 3. Facility Revenue (Lane Rentals, Café/Swim Shop, External Events, Amenity/Facility fee charges) $620K
Operational Efficiency & Sustainability: renewable annual revenue through sponsorships and grants (25%)
Programming: Comprehensive in-house aquatics offerings.
Community Connection: Large park setting with lake integrates well with RecPlex run outdoor activities
Design Elements: Built in phases
Competition Venue: Regional Scale
Management & Ownership: Strong professional management staff
Operational Efficiency & Sustainability: High event calendar and ability to run community programming during meets helps generate a high cost recovery.
Funding & Partnerships: 50m pool expansion funded in part by major corporate foundation grant
Programming: Comprehensive offerings for all ages – skill development, health & wellness and water safety.
Community Connection: SwimRVA’s mission: health and wellness, sports tourism, competitive swimming and water safety.
Programming: Water Safety – Drownproof Richmand initiative
o Universal access to water safety, aquatic fitness, and workforce development outreach programs
o Hub for training Lifeguard Instructors in the Richmond region
o Custom built water safety programs for organizations
Design Elements: Breadth of Aquatic Facility elements; Regional Scale
Programming: Community Wellness – Serves recreation, leisure, fitness, therapy, Learn to Swim, competition, training – All age groups & abilities, Growth seen in all user groups annually
Design Elements: Breadth of Aquatic Facility – leisure, recreation, warm water therapy, competition
Competition: State of the Art flexible competitive facility
Management and Ownership: Independent Pool Authority with governing Board and taxing authority
Funding: Independent Public Funding entity with annual program fundraising element
Operationally Efficient – High cost recovery requiring low operating subsidy funded through Pool Authority operational levy millage, low service fees
Community Connection – strong School District and Medical relationship; Learn to Swim Program integrated in K-5 local school district – 5000 students annually, special needs programming
Lenexa Rec Center – $30M
- Funded by portion of the 20yr 3/8th cent sales tax measure passed by the voters in 1998
- Sinking Fund – Revolving funds through membership revenues.
- Membership goes toward 3 things (Programming, operating costs, maintenance).
- City gave Shawnee Mission SD land
- Bond Issue (included in a $233M 2015 Bond Issue)
Rec Center
- Goal operational sufficient in 5yrs; Exceeded operational goals by 25% in 1st year.
- Serve the community first.
- Mix of programming to be operationally efficient.
- Top Usage: 1. Aquatics venue 2. Fitness programming 3. Walking track
Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center
- MOU between SM SD and Johnston County
- Johnston County to Operate – ensure community access
- County owns everything wet; SD own/maintains dry side (including building)
- Will serve Shawnee Mission SD which has 5 HSs. Note: there are 4 SD’s in Johnston County
- Will serve Johnston County swim team (KC Blazers)
- SD and County vision to make every 3rd/4th grader Water Safe
Local Best In Class Examples
- A local facility with regional draw for recreation and warm water therapy
- Funded by a $25M Councilmanic Bond (Utility tax Increase)
- City managed
- 5,500 sq ft Recreation Pool
- Water slides, lazy river, water playground and family hot tub
- Lap pool, sauna, adult hot tub and warm-water therapy pool
- Cardio/Weight room
- Fitness studio (and rentable party room)
- Racquetball Courts
- ADA accessible
- Locker rooms
- Private, family changing rooms
- Owned / Operated by the Snohomish School District (SSD)
3rd party operates and reports into SSD
- Located on City owned land
- Funded by a $23-$25M School Bond for High School and Junior High – 2008
- Swim / Dive educational focus
- Known operational loss, but planned revenue
- Revenue $1.8 M
- City provides water at no charge
- Snohomish residents swim lessons for free
- All 3rd graders in the district gets free lessons
- Young families biggest users
- 52,000 sq ft
- 25Y x 25M Competition pool & Dive Area
- Two 1 M diving boards
- 7 ft shallow to 12 ½ ft deep
- 2 Handicap Lifts
- 420 capacity seating
- Wibit floating play structure
- Recreation pool
- Spray-play area, zero-entry area, lazy river, and a waterslide.
- FlowRider – only one in area
- Hot tub
- Locker rooms, private meeting/party spaces, cafe and a family changing area
Parking – 193 initial spaces. Added additional 151 spaces & overflow in 2017 to help during events, big help but still tight
Highly Recommends Separate Dive Tank. This is THE ONE thing they would change. Diving Boards on side of pool take away lanes.
- City Owned / YMCA operated
Located on City owned land / Sammamish Commons
Adjacent to Library and City Hall
Parking structure and surface parking added for Aquatic Center
$34 million (City CIP/Land)
$3.2 M Soft Costs
$29.7 M Construction Costs
$5 M YMCA contribution
Remaining costs – City reserves + Parks
- YMCA Operates & Maintains
Green Features but LEED certified
- 2 story building
- 6-lane, 25-yard lap pool
- 3,300 sq ft leisure pool, a spa
2 story water slide
Zero entry w/ playground
Lazy River
- Two gymnasiums, a jogging track, fitness space
- Group fitness rooms, a break room, a family center room, meeting spaces, child watch areas, administration offices and service areas.
- Community Swim – Free to Sammamish Residents
- At capacity and not even open a year
- Activity Pool – first come first serve, wristbands 1 hr before
- $25M – Revenues from General Oblg. Bonds & Real Estate excise tax revenues
- 25 Yard, 6 Lane Lap pool
- Recreation Pool / Splash Park – 2300 sq ft
- Waterslide
- Lazy River
- Three stair entries
- Tot area with play features and water features
- Vortex
- 1M Diving Board
- Spa – Stair entry, Hydrotherapy bench
- ADA Lift
- U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED Gold certification for energy efficient design – natural ventilation, rainwater harvesting system for toilets & irrigation, a geothermal energy system, and solar panels