Huber Heights focused on maintaining excitement about new aquatic center

Huber Heights focused on maintaining excitement about new aquatic center
Dayton Daily News
by Steven Matthews
11/28/12

The Kroger Aquatic Center at The Heights generated more than $550,000 in revenue in its first season of operation, netting a profit of $114,375 — a one-time revenue source that could be used for a one-time expenditure, city officials said.

The facility’s attendance and financial figures exceeded expectations, but Huber Heights and YMCA officials said they know they can’t count on that large of a profit every year.

YMCA Executive Director Josh Sullenberger said the challenge will be to keep the pool “fresh and new” so interest doesn’t wane, which is something the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center has faced.

Since it opened in 2005, the Tippecanoe Family Aquatic Center has seen a decline in attendance from the previous season every year except 2010. This year’s attendance figure of 39,363 was the lowest in the facility’s history, and City Manager Jon Crusey said part of the reason was the opening of Huber Heights’ aquatic center.

The facilities are 10 miles apart.

“We probably get more daily fee attendance from the folks out of Huber Heights than memberships,” Crusey said. “Our daily fee attendance was down 3,000, and a large portion of that I’m sure went to Huber Heights.”

For the first time since 2009, Tipp City had to subsidize the facility using general fund dollars ($52,542). The Huber Heights Municipal Pool closed after the 2009 season, which factored into Tipp City generating all-time highs in revenue in 2010 ($387,874) and 2011 ($391,331), Crusey said.

Crusey said the hot weather also was to blame for the slow 2012 season. The city experienced 37 days of temperatures 90 degrees or above, compared to 19 last year.

“Obviously, enthusiasm tends to fade over time,” Crusey said. “We’re all competing for the same folks. We’re a small town and we want to keep the aquatic center more local. Our community is proud of the facility that we’ve built here. It serves the population, but it’s also weather dependent.”

The Kroger Aquatic Center at The Heights — which is operated by the YMCA — attracted 86,977 total visitors, and about 45 percent of them came from outside Huber Heights, Sullenberger said. Before the $6 million facility opened May 26, Sullenberger projected an attendance figure of 45,000 to 50,000 and $360,000 in revenue.

In the 89 days the city-owned aquatic center was open, the total revenue generated was $558,627 and total operating expenses were $444,252.

“Facility to facility, I think it’s one of the nicest facilities in the Greater Dayton area,” Sullenberger said. “Part of that is it’s new. We plan to have special events centered around the pool to keep things fresh and up to date.”

Donnie Jones, Huber Heights assistant city manager, said the aquatic center’s profit could be used to purchase four police cars. Finance Director Jim Bell said there are “a lot of options on the table,” including returning the money to the general fund to offset $80,000 in advances made to the aquatic center for items such as liability insurance and marketing.

“It’s absolutely a diamond for the city and the money it was able to bring in was wonderful,” Councilman Ed Lyons said.

Sullenberger said that 455 season passes were sold and 85 seasonal jobs were created. He expects minor rate increases next year, but a 2013 season pass can be purchased by the end of the year at the 2012 rate.

The YMCA plans to host a community-wide “Swimposium” in May to help educate the community on the importance of water safety and free swimming lessons. Tyree Dukes, a 3-year-old boy, drowned at the facility on July 4.

“What we realized was that a large portion of our community does not know how to swim or does not have adequate water safety,” Sullenberger said. “We want the community and parents to understand what it really means to be safe in and around the water.”