Totals soar as pool getting ready to close for season

Thursday, August 5, 2021

With just one weekend remaining in the 2021 pool season at the Greencastle Aquatic Center, some interesting statistics are emerging.

Admissions and concessions figures through Aug. 3 are approaching a total of $100,000, according to figures provided to the Greencastle Park Board Wednesday night.

For the period May 31-Aug. 3, admissions figures totaled $76,781, covering daily admissions, passes, pool rental and lessons.

Concessions figures over the same period totaled $22,274 -- including $5,020 for the hot item of the summer -- pretzels.

With the pool closing for the season on Sunday, Aug. 8, total revenues are almost certain to top $100,000 for year, while use of the two new slides continues to amaze. Through Aug. 3, the green slide has seen 19,955 persons take the plunge, while the orange slide numbers are at 17,266 for the same period.

Twenty-four pool rentals over the course of the season have yielded fees of $10,445. The pool also has taken in $2,000 for various swim lessons.

“So all in all, a good season,” Park Board President Cathy Merrell remarked.

With only Greencastle schools returning to classes this week, enough lifeguards have been available to keep the pool open through Aug. 8, yet far from the once-customary Labor Day weekend.

Park Assistant Director Chrysta Snellenberger would like to see the pool stay open later next year, particularly with warm weather generally continuing throughout August and into September. In order to do that, however, she will need to secure adult lifeguards, and already has one man who said he plans to get recertified so he can help next summer.

Any other qualified adults interested in lifeguard duties next summer are asked to call the pool or park office.

While the pool itself is closing after this weekend, the splashpark will remain open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, weather permitting until the temperature cools for three consecutive days of less than 70 degrees.

Last year that occurred on Oct. 2, Park Director Rod Weinschenk said.

It was also reported that movie night at the pool, which had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather, drew 175 spectators, while the recent First Baptist Church pool party had 305 people.

Concessions manager Joanna Muncie reported sales of $5,766 in sodas, water and Gatorade, $2,767 in candy, $2,368 in nachos, $2,265 in hotdogs, $2,216 in cheese cups and $917 in ice cream sandwiches.

A one-day Pizza Day special, featuring pizzas from Papa John’s, brought in $76, causing Muncie so say she would “absolutely do it again.”

In other business, the Park Board:

-- Authorized a final payment of $78,079 for Graves Construction on the slide project and other construction work at the pool.

-- Approved use of a portion of Big Walnut Sports Park for the Oct. 2 Pedal Putnam bike race being put on by WTHI, Terre Haute, along with Elevate Endurance and the support of the Putnam County Convention and Visitors Bureau. Three routes -- 12-mile, 40-mile and 62-mile -- will begin at 9 a.m. or 9:15. Registration is under way at GoPutnam.com. A portion of the proceeds will be dedicated to People Pathways.

-- Approved three free bicycle clinics to be conducted by Chris Flegal of Top Hat Cyclery Aug. 28 (9 and 10:30 a.m.) and Sept. 11 (9 a.m.) at Robe-Ann Park. Clinics will be limited to 10-15 participants.

-- Authorized the use of Big Walnut Sports Park for a Putnam County Fall Walking program at 9 a.m. Tuesdays during September and October.

-- Heard Weinschenk reported that four representatives from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources visited Robe-Ann Park for a firsthand look at proposed improvements included in the city’s Land and Water Grant application. The visitors made about five suggestions, which Weinschenk has modified into the plan. Grant winners are expected to be announced next spring, which means if Greencastle is successful, it could likely begin the construction phase of the project in fall 2022.

-- Heard Weinschenk announce that a fall coed softball league is forming with 12 teams. Registration is due Aug. 23 with a fee of $460 per team. Opening night is tentatively set Sept. 1-2.

-- Learned that a sewing class for ages 9-12 is slated for 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 24-Sept. 28 at Robe-Ann Park. Cost is $30 per person. Nialah Alaka-Muhammad will be the instructor.

-- Learned that a new fall kickball league is scheduled for Sept. 15-Oct. 13 with games at 6 p.m. Fee is $125 per team with registration due by 4 p.m. Sept. 4. Limited to first six teams to register. Teams can have 10-16 players with at least five of them needing to be girls.

-- Learned that a Build and Learn Toolbox Workshop is set for 4-6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, Sept. 14 and 16 in the maintenance building at Robe-Ann Park. Fee is $20 per toolbox. Registration deadline is Sept. 10.

-- Announced that the annual Glow Throw disc golf tournament is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2 at Big Walnut Sports Park. Pre-registration fee is $10 per person, $15 day of the event.

Park Board President Merrell and board member Muncie were joined for the August meeting by Tim Trigg. Member Pete Meyer was absent.

The next regularly scheduled Park Board meeting is set for 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1 at City Hall.

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  • In Indiana the schools keep pushing the start date to the point that a Pool cannot pay for its self. Same for Theme Parks - All of August should be fun in the sun days - there is plenty of time between Sept 1st and June 30th to get in the required 180 days of school.

    -- Posted by Workingthesoil on Sun, Aug 8, 2021, at 12:35 PM
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