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Early city pool numbers encouraging
With attendance figures as spectacular as the recent weather, the Greencastle Aquatic Center swim season is off to a flying start.
The period May 29-June 6 has produced more than $56,000 in admissions receipts, Assistant Park Director Chrysta Snellenberger told the Park Board at its June meeting Wednesday night.
Additionally, nearly $7,000 in concessions sales were rung up over the same period that was punctured by sunshine and warm temperatures to start the season.
“It’s the weather,” Park Board President Cathy Merrell raved. “Wonderful weather. It’s been hot but it wasn’t uncomfortable. The first week was stellar.”
Even Wednesday when it rained a bit and was somewhat chilly in the morning, the weather turned around to allow the pool to open on schedule at noon even though morning swim lessons had to be canceled.
Overall, Snellenberger said 2,131 walk-in swimmers came through the turnstiles May 29-June 6, amounting to daily admissions fees of $10,800.
During the same period, the pool sold 232 individual passes, 102 family passes and 39 of the 10-punch passes (for the price of eight admissions) for a total monetary value of $46,060.
“These are great numbers, that’s just awesome,” Merrell added.
Concessions sales were also impressive as reported by concessions manager Joanna Muncie, who doubles as a Park Board member.
Sales totaled $6,946.75 with purchases of $3,237.40 made to stock the concession stand. Pretzels with cheese sauce continue to be the big seller as in recent years at the pool.
“Hence three trips to Sam’s last week,” Muncie noted in making multiple visits to Sam’s Club stores last week in an effort to replenish the pretzel supply.
She bought all the pretzels the Terre Haute and Indianapolis stores had in stock, while striking out on a visit to the Bloomington Sam’s.
While Muncie has made repeated trips out of town to purchase pretzels in the past, board member Tim Trigg suggested it might be wise to determine who the supplier is and see if pretzels can be purchased directly by the Parks Department.
Meanwhile, the Park Board also approved four requests for naming rights on the department eight shelterhouses, three of which are located in Robe-Ann Park.
Approved without immediate assignment of shelter or determination of one-, two- or three-year contracts were Putnam County Hospital, the Jack and Shirley Dalton Family Trust, State Farm Insurance-Amanda Procenti and Vincent Aguirre/Distinct. Fees are $1,200 for three years, $900 for two years and a prorated $330 for the remainder of 2023.
Five criteria exist for the naming rights approval — significant historic contributions, significant material contributions, significant financial contributions, persons of outstanding civic service and documented community support.
“I’m excited about this,” said Park Director Greg Ruark, who introduced the idea last winter. “This is groundbreaking.”
Other business at the Park Board session will be included in a future article.
With board members Merrell, Trigg and Muncie in attendance, Park Board member Doug Hutchison was absent.
The board’s next regular session is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 5 at the Robe-Ann Park office.