City Releases Aquatic Center Financial Numbers

The city of Glenwood has released financial numbers for the Glenwood Aquatic Center’s first full year of operations.

The $5 million facility opened in July 2016 for an abbreviated season, meaning the city wouldn’t get a clear glimpse of the operating expenses required for a complete summer of swimming until 2017.

Revenues from the sale of season passes, daily admissions, party rentals and concessions totaled $98,139 from May - October 2017. Expenses during the same time period, including a $25,000 management fee paid to the Mills County YMCA, came to $127,017, resulting in an overall operating loss of $28,878.
 
In addition to the $98,139 in general revenue, Glenwood City Administrator Angie Winquist said the city also received a one-time disbursement check from Vision Iowa for the Community Attractions and Tourism (CAT) grant the project was awarded in 2016. The grant was awarded to help fund lighting at the facility.

Mills County YMCA Aquatics Youth and Family Director Alexis Unger said  operations ran smoothly at the aquatics center this year and staff benefited from having the brief swimming season in 2016. It gave the YMCA administration a better picture of its staffing needs and helped get aquatic center employees acclimated to the facility.

“Starting out for the shorter season (in 2016) was definitely helpful,” Unger said. “The staff was better trained and better prepared for 2017.”
Attendance at the aquatic center averaged 180 on a daily basis. Unger said interest in season and individual passes grew as the summer went on.

“If you come 17 or 18 times, that pays for your pass,” Unger noted.

Family passes for a summer of swimming currently sell for $175. Individual passes are $80. Daily admission rates are $5 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and $3 for students. Children under the age of 4 are admitted for free.

Unger said interest in private and semi-private pool party rental was stable throughout the summer.