06 Episode - Rec Facilities: Remaining Relevant

Upgrades and enhancements provide incentives for patrons to returnBy John DzarnowskiTo remain relevant and attract visitors, municipal aquatic centers must make upgrades and add interest despite the challenges presented by budget constraints and the fluctuations brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of forced closures of facilities, many aquatic leaders lost revenue, and funding for programs was cut, although some cities have managed to pass referenda during that time to start projects. The majority of these projects are upgrades to refurbish older facilities by adding to or renovating the existing infrastructure to align with current trends. Such projects are a real challenge and offer unique opportunities for leaders to optimize facilities. Here’s how.