Aquatics

A Look at Trends in Aquatic Facilities

PHOTO COURTESY OF AQUATIC DEVELOPMENT GROUP

 

There's never any shortage of advancements and changes in the world of aquatics, and the past year has been no exception. Most recently, two industry associations, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (APSP) and the National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) agreed to merge in order to better support the needs of the aquatic industry. In addition, 2016 saw the launch of Water Safety USA, established by a consortium of national governmental and nongovernmental organizations concerned with water safety and drowning prevention.

 

In addition to boosting water safety and industry knowledge, the past year has witnessed a continuing effort at spreading awareness of the Model Aquatic Health Code (MAHC), the nation's first set of voluntary guidelines based on science and best practices to improve health and safety at aquatic facilities. The ongoing work on the MAHC means that this extensive piece of work and industry expertise will continue to improve, providing local officials with a better guideline for establishing or updating their pool codes.

According to the 2016 Participation Report from the Physical Activity Council, which tracks participation in 120 sports and fitness activities, participation in sports has been fluctuating over the past few years, but in terms of interest, all age groups look to swimming as a top means for future fitness.

But we all know that swimming pools and aquatic facilities—while an excellent venue for pursuing fitness activities, whether that means lap swimming, water aerobics or some other sort of exercise—are for far more than fitness. Indeed, over the past decade, even the simplest of rectangular swimming pools have found ways to become more appealing to a wider audience, with everything from poolside climbing walls and inflatable obstacle courses to surf machines, slides and much more. Today's pools continue to find new ways to bring fun and fitness to the population they serve, and behind the scenes, manufacturers are inventing increasingly effective ways to keep those pools full of healthy water while using fewer resources.

In this section, we'll take a look at how things are shaping up for those survey respondents whose facilities include aquatic elements, which for our purposes here means that they have at least one of the following: indoor swimming pools, outdoor swimming pools, splash play areas, waterparks or hot tubs. In 2016, more than half (54.1 percent) of respondents to the Industry Report survey said their facilities include aquatic elements. (See Figure 36.)

Aquatic Facilities

There was little change in the types of aquatic facilities represented in the survey from 2015 to 2016. There were slight increases in every facility type. The most common type of aquatic facility found among respondents' facilities was outdoor swimming pools. More than seven in 10 (71.4 percent) aquatic respondents include outdoor pools. They were followed by indoor swimming pools, found among 62.5 percent of aquatic respondents. More than half (51 percent) of aquatic respondents said they had splash play areas. Some 42 percent had hot tubs, spas and whirlpools. And more than a quarter (25.3 percent) said they included waterparks among their aquatic facilities. (See Figure 37.)

Outdoor swimming pools were most commonly found among aquatic respondents from the South Atlantic region. In the South Atlantic, 77.9 percent of aquatic respondents said they had outdoor pools. They were followed by the South Central region, where 74.6 percent of aquatic respondents had outdoor pools. Respondents from the Midwest were the least likely to have outdoor pools, though a majority (63.1 percent) did indicate that their facilities included them. When considered by community type, outdoor pools were most common among suburban respondents, where 71.6 percent of those with aquatics featured outdoor pools.

Indoor swimming pools were most commonly found among aquatic respondents located in the Midwest. More than two-thirds (67.2 percent) of Midwestern aquatic respondents said they had indoor pools. They were followed by the Northeast, where 64.6 percent of aquatic respondents said their facilities featured indoor pools. Respondents in the South Central states were the least likely to feature indoor pools, though 59.3 percent have them. Community-wise, indoor aquatic facilities are more common in urban areas, where 68.2 percent of aquatic respondents said they include indoor pools.

Splash play areas were most commonly found among aquatic respondents in the West, where 55.8 percent said they include them. They were followed by the South Central region, where 55.2 percent of aquatic respondents include splash play areas. They were least common in the Northeast, where 31.9 percent included them. Community-wise, splash play is more common in urban areas, with 58.3 percent of urban aquatic respondents indicating they include splash play areas.

Waterparks were most commonly found among aquatic respondents from the Midwest and South Central regions. In each of these regions, 31 percent of the respondents whose facilities include aquatics said they had a waterpark. Waterparks were least common in the Northeast, where just 7.6 percent said they had them. Community-wise, waterparks are more common among suburban respondents. Some 28.9 percent of suburban respondents with aquatics said their facilities included waterparks.

Hot tubs, spas and whirlpools are most commonly found among aquatic respondents located in the West, where 56 percent said they feature hot tubs in their facilities. They were followed by the Midwest, where 45.3 percent of aquatic respondents' facilities include hot tubs. Hot tubs were least common in the Northeast, with just 19.5 percent of aquatic respondents indicating they had them. In terms of community type, suburban respondents were the most likely to have hot tubs. Some 43.9 percent of suburban aquatic respondents said their facilities included hot tubs.

Different types of facilities tend to specialize in certain types of aquatic amenities. For example, indoor pools are much more common among colleges and schools than they are at parks and camp facilities, while hot tubs are far more common at health clubs.

Among aquatic respondents, those from camps were the most likely to include outdoor swimming pools among their amenities. Some 81.4 percent of camp respondents with aquatics said they have outdoor pools. They were followed by parks respondents (72.8 percent); and health clubs (52.5 percent).

For indoor swimming pools, aquatic respondents from colleges and universities predominate, with 91.7 percent of them including indoor pools at their facilities. They were followed by schools and school districts (90.9 percent), and YMCAs (89.4 percent).

Aquatic respondents from parks were more likely than others to include splash play areas. Some 54.9 percent of park respondents with aquatics said their facilities include splash play. They were followed by community recreation centers (36.1 percent) and YMCAs (22.5 percent).

Waterparks were most commonly found among park respondents. Some 24.9 percent of park respondents with aquatics said they include a waterpark. They were followed by community recreation centers, where 10.8 percent said they include waterparks.

Hot tubs, spas and whirlpools were most commonly found in the facilities of aquatic respondents from health clubs. More than three-quarters (77.5 percent) of aquatic respondents from health clubs said their facilities included hot tubs. They were followed by community recreation centers (51.8 percent) and YMCAs (45.7 percent).

As in past years, the vast majority of pools were used for leisure and recreation, or a combination of leisure and competition. Only 1.1 percent of respondents with aquatics said their pools are for competition only. More than half (54.8 percent) said their aquatic facilities are meant to include a combination of leisure and competition. And 44.1 percent said their pools are just for leisure and recreation. (See Figure 38.)

Pools that were used for competition only were most likely to be found among aquatic respondents with schools and school districts. Some 13.6 percent of school respondents with aquatics said their pools were used for competition only. They were followed by colleges and universities (2.3 percent) and parks (0.4 percent). No other respondents said their pools were for competition only.

Leisure pools were predominantly found among camp respondents with aquatics. Some 90.9 percent of camp respondents with aquatics said their aquatic facilities were for leisure and recreation. They were followed by health clubs (47.5 percent) and YMCAs (40.9 percent).

Pools used for a combination of leisure and competition were most commonly found among aquatic respondents from schools and colleges. Some 79.5 percent of schools respondents with aquatics said their pools were used for both recreation and competition. They were followed by colleges (65.6 percent) and parks (60.3 percent).

Pools & Budgets

From 2014 to 2015, respondents with aquatics saw their average overall operating expenditure drop by 1.1 percent, from $2,254,000 in 2014 to $2,229,000 in 2015. For respondents without aquatics, operating expenditures fell in that time period by 6.4 percent from $1,251,000 in 2014 to $1,171,000 in 2015. This means respondents with no aquatics as part of their facility now spend 47.5 percent less on operating expenses than those who do have aquatics.

Looking forward, respondents expect their average operating expenses to grow by 5.6 percent over the next two years whether they have aquatics or not. For aquatics respondents, expenses are projected to increase from $2,229,000 in fiscal 2015 to $2,354,000 in 2017. Those without aquatics expect their operating expenditures to grow from $1,171,000 in 2015 to $1,237,000 in 2017.

While overall operating expenditures dropped slightly between fiscal 2014 and 2015, aquatics-specific operating expenditures grew by 3.6 percent, from an average of $442,000 in 2014 to $458,000 in 2015. Over the next two years, aquatics respondents projected their aquatic operating expenditures to grow 8.3 percent, to an average of $496,000 in 2017. (See Figure 39.)

Respondents from parks reported the highest overall average aquatic operating expenditure for 2015, with an average of $546,000. They were followed by respondents from community recreation centers ($498,000); YMCAs ($495,000); and health clubs ($469,000). Respondents from camps had the lowest overall average aquatic operating expenditure in 2015, at $197,000. They were followed by schools ($197,000); and colleges and universities ($219,000).

From 2015 to 2017, respondents from YMCAs were expecting to see the greatest increase in average aquatic operating expenditures, with a 24.6 percent increase to an average of $617,000. Also expecting increases of greater than 10 percent were colleges and universities (up 13.7 percent to $249,000); schools (up 11.2 percent, to $219,000); and camps (up 10.5 percent, to $137,000). Smaller increases to aquatic operating expenditures were expected among respondents from community recreation centers, who project their operating expenses for aquatics will rise 6.6 percent to an average of $531,000; parks (up 5.7 percent, to $577,000); and health clubs (up 2.3 percent, to $480,000).

Around three in 10 (30.8 percent) aquatics respondents said their aquatic revenues had increased from 2014 to 2015. At the same time, 11.6 percent said aquatic revenues had fallen in that time frame. Looking forward, around a third continue to expect to see increasing revenues, while fewer expect decreases. From 2015 to 2016, 33.9 percent of aquatic respondents expect aquatic revenues to rise, while 5.9 percent expect a decrease. And from 2016 to 2017, 32 percent expect an increase, while 5 percent project a decrease.

From 2014 to 2015, aquatics respondents from health clubs were the most likely to report both an increase in revenues and a decrease, compared with other facility types. Some 37.8 percent of health club respondents with aquatics said that aquatic revenues had increased from 2014 to 2015, and 16.2 percent said revenues had fallen in that time frame. Among community recreation centers, 36.3 percent said aquatic revenues had increased, and 34.1 percent of park respondents saw an increase to aquatic revenues.

Looking forward, 44.4 percent of health club respondents expect aquatic revenues to increase from 2015 to 2016, and 39.4 percent expect a further increase in 2017. Some 40 percent of community recreation center respondents said aquatic revenues will increase in 2016, and 39.2 percent project them to increase in 2017. Finally, among YMCA respondents with aquatics, 36.3 percent expect aquatic revenues to increase in 2016, and 39.5 percent expect an increase in 2017.

The percentage of aquatic respondents who assert that their aquatic revenues support their aquatic operations has held steady over the past several years. Nearly one-fifth (19.7 percent) of aquatic respondents said their aquatic facility generates the revenue to support its operations, while 72.2 percent said that their aquatic facilities are subsidized via funding from other sources. (See Figure 40.)

Respondents from private, for-profit organizations were the most likely to report that they were able to support their aquatic operations with revenues from their aquatic facilities. More than one-third (33.9 percent) of for-profit respondents said their aquatic facilities were supported via revenues, while 56.2 percent said their aquatic operations were subsidized with funding from other sources.

Public and nonprofit organizations were much more likely to rely on other funding to subsidize their aquatic operations. Among public organizations, 19.3 percent said aquatic operations are funded via aquatic revenues, while 72 percent said aquatic operations are subsidized via funding from other sources. For private, nonprofit organizations, 14 percent said aquatic operations are paid for via aquatic revenues, while 80.4 percent said those operations are subsidized through other sources.

Respondents from health clubs were the most likely to report that they earned their aquatic operating costs via aquatic revenues. Nearly half (47.5 percent) of health club respondents said they covered the cost of their aquatic operations with revenues from their aquatic facility, while 35 percent said those costs were subsidized. More than one-fifth of community recreation centers and parks respondents also said they were able to pay for aquatic operations with aquatic revenues. Some 25.9 percent of community recreation center respondents cover aquatic costs with aquatic revenues, while 65.4 percent said those costs are subsidized via other sources. And 20.8 percent of park respondents said they paid for aquatic operations with aquatic revenues, while 72.4 percent said those costs were subsidized.

Respondents from camps and YMCAs were the most likely to subsidize their aquatic operating expenditures from non-aquatic revenues and other funding. Some 87.9 percent of camp respondents and 79.6 percent of YMCA respondents said their aquatic operating expenditures were subsidized. They were followed by colleges and universities (75.8 percent) and schools (75 percent).

Programming

The majority of aquatic respondents reported that they offer aquatic programming at their facilities, from learn-to-swim and water safety programs, to water polo and much more. Some 94.7 percent of respondents said they provide aquatic programming at their facilities. This includes 100 percent of aquatic respondents from YMCAs, schools, and colleges. Respondents from camps were the least likely to provide aquatic programming, though 85.7 percent indicated that they do provide such programs.

The top 10 aquatic programs offered at aquatic facilities is exactly the same as last year, though the percentage of respondents offering each type of program varied, with increases in the percentage offering every type of program included in the top 10 in 2016. The top 10 programs offered include:

  1. Leisure swim (included at 86.1 percent of aquatic facilities)
  2. Learn-to-swim for children (81.1 percent)
  3. Lap swim (75.1 percent)
  4. Lifeguard training (73.2 percent)
  5. Aquatic exercise programs (66.7 percent)
  6. Learn-to-swim for adults (60.5 percent)
  7. Water safety programs (57.9 percent)
  8. Youth swim teams (56.1 percent)
  9. Swim meets and competitions (49.6 percent)
  10. Special needs programs (35 percent)

Aquatic respondents from colleges and universities were more likely than those from other facility types to offer: adult swim teams; and water polo.

Aquatic respondents from schools were more likely than other facility types to provide: youth swim teams; swim meets and competitions; special needs programs; school/collegiate swim teams; and diving or diving teams.

Aquatic respondents from YMCAs were more likely than others to offer: leisure swim; learn-to-swim for children; lap swim; lifeguard training; aquatic exercise programs; learn-to-swim for adults; water safety programs; and aqua-therapy.

There was a slight decrease in 2016 in the percentage of aquatic respondents who plan to add new programs at their facilities over the next several years. In 2015, 19.8 percent of respondents had such plans. This year, some 18.2 percent of aquatic respondents said they have plans to add programs at their facilities.

Aquatic respondents from parks were the most likely to be planning to add aquatic programs at their facilities. Some 21.7 percent of parks respondents with aquatics had such plans. They were followed by YMCAs (19.1 percent) and health clubs (17.5 percent). School respondents were the least likely to report that they had plans to add aquatic programs, with 9.1 percent of these respondents indicating they would do so over the next few years.

The top 10 planned program additions include:

  1. Special needs programs (planned by 31.7 percent of those who will be adding programs)
  2. Learn-to-swim for adults (28.8 percent)
  3. Aquatic exercise programs (27.9 percent)
  4. Adult swim teams (19.7 percent)
  5. Aqua-therapy (16.3 percent)
  6. Learn-to-swim for children (15.9 percent)
  7. Youth swim teams (15.9 percent)
  8. Water safety programs (15.4 percent)
  9. Water polo (15.4 percent)
  10. Lifeguard training (13.5 percent)

There were increases in the percentage of respondents planning to add: special needs programs (up from 31.5 percent); learn-to-swim for adults (up from 24.7 percent); aquatic exercise (up from 19.1 percent); and lifeguard training (up from 13.1 percent). Water polo did not appear on the top 10 list for planned programs in 2015. It replaces swim meets and competitions.

Aquatic respondents from parks were the most likely to be planning to add: learn-to-swim for adults; and diving or diving teams.

Aquatic respondents from schools were the most likely to be planning to add: aquatic exercise programs.

Aquatic respondents from health clubs were the most likely to be planning to add: aqua-therapy; youth swim teams; water safety programs; lifeguard training; lap swim; leisure swim; and school/collegiate swim teams.

Aquatic respondents from YMCAs were the most likely to be planning to add: special needs programs; and swim meets and competitions.

Aquatic respondents from camps were the most likely to be planning to add: learn-to-swim for children.

Aquatic respondents from community recreation centers were the most likely to be planning to add: adult swim teams; and water polo.

Facility Enhancements

PHOTO COURTESY OF PLAYCORE

The percentage of aquatic respondents with plans to build new facilities, or make additions or renovations to their existing facilities, fell slightly in 2016. Some 68.5 percent of aquatic respondents have such plans this year, compared to 69.1 percent in 2015. Aquatic respondents were more likely than non-aquatic respondents to be planning construction. Some 64 percent of non-aquatic respondents reported that they had construction plans.

Aquatic respondents are more likely than those without aquatics to be planning additions and renovations. Some 30.1 percent of aquatic respondents plan to add to their facilities, while 26.9 percent of non-aquatic respondents have plans for additions. And more than half (50.9 percent) of aquatic respondents are planning renovations, while 43.7 percent of non-aquatic respondents have renovations in the works.

When it comes to building new, aquatic respondents are slightly less likely to have plans than non-aquatic respondents, with 25.8 percent of aquatic respondents reporting they'll be building new facilities, compared with 27 percent of non-aquatic respondents.

Aquatic respondents are planning to spend 11.8 percent less on their construction, compared with 2015. Aquatic respondents from 2016 reported an average construction budget of $3,975,000, compared with $4,507,000 in 2015. Their 2016 construction budgets are 35 percent higher than for respondents without aquatics, who reported an average construction budget of $2,945,000.

The top 10 features currently found among aquatic respondents' facilities include:

  1. Automatic chemical feeders (found among 68.8 percent of aquatic respondents' facilities)
  2. Pool lift/accessibility equipment (66.9 percent)
  3. Diving boards (45.4 percent)
  4. Zero-depth entry (39.8 percent)
  5. Waterslides (38.2 percent)
  6. Water play structures (35.6 percent)
  7. Splash pads (22.2 percent)
  8. UV disinfection systems (19 percent)
  9. Poolside cabanas (14.7 percent)
  10. Lazy rivers (13.5 percent)

Aquatics respondents from park facilities were more likely than those from other facilities to include: zero-depth entry; waterslides; water play structures; splash pads; poolside cabanas; lazy rivers; and surf machines.

Aquatics respondents from community recreation centers were more likely than those from other types of facilities to include: automatic chemical feeders; UV disinfection; ozone systems; solar pool heating; and wave pools.

Aquatics respondents from schools were more likely than others to include diving boards; and those from YMCAs were most likely to have pool lifts or accessibility equipment.

More than one-quarter (27.1 percent) of aquatics respondents said they had plans to add more features at their facilities over the next few years, virtually unchanged from 2015, when 27.5 percent had such plans. Aquatic respondents from health clubs were the most likely to have such plans. Some 35 percent of aquatic respondents from health clubs said they would add features at their facilities. They were followed by parks (31.5 percent) and camps (31.4 percent). Aquatics respondents from colleges were the least likely to be planning to add features, with 12.9 percent indicating they would do so in the next three years.

 

The most commonly planned additions in 2016 include splash pads (33.5 percent of aquatic respondents plan to add them); water play structures (25.5 percent); and UV disinfection (24.8 percent). More respondents in 2016 than 2015 are planning to add: splash pads (33.5 percent vs. 31.3 percent); water play structures (25.5 percent vs. 24.4 percent); zero-depth entry (21.3 percent vs. 20.7 percent); waterslides (18.4 percent vs. 16.4 percent); and solar pool heating (11.9 percent vs. 10.3 percent). (See Figure 41.)

 

Aquatic respondents from parks were more likely than those from other types of facilities to be planning to add: splash pads; water play structures; zero-depth entry; waterslides; and lazy rivers.

Aquatic respondents from schools were the most likely to be planning to add UV disinfection.

Aquatic respondents from health clubs were the most likely to be planning to add: automatic chemical feeders; saline chlorination systems; ozone systems; and surf machines.

Aquatic respondents from camps were more likely than others to be planning to add pool lifts and accessibility equipment.

Aquatic respondents from community recreation centers were more likely than others to be planning to add poolside cabanas; solar pool heating; diving boards; and wave pools.