Tori Sutton
Staff Reporter
This year’s warmer than usual summer made the Lions Pool one of the coolest destinations in Stratford.
Staff have crunched the preliminary figures which show business was booming at the outdoor swimming pool this season.
“We’ve seen approximately 40 per cent increase in season’s passes sold,” said pool supervisor David Marklevitz, in an interview Friday.
There has also been an increase in walk-in swimmers, with 7,500 swimmers coming out for public swim sessions. They’ve also seen a “large increase” in the number of families using the pool, along with former competitive swimmers and those training for triathlons.
Marklevitz credits several things for the increase, heat and humidity aside. First, the swimming lesson programs offered at the pool are high quality and second, new marketing strategies have made them even more appealing.
“Over the last two years, we’ve gotten really big into online registration for lessons,” he said, adding about 50 per cent of people now sign up online at www.stratfordrecreation.ca.
Even those who opt to register in person still peruse the website for information. Since launching the online resource, swimming lesson enrollment has increased 25 per cent.
“In general, what we’re seeing is a lot more families using the facility,” Marklevitz said.
“Because the pool is divided, a lot more families are able to come down and stay in the safer environment of the shallow pool.”
The one end of the pool has a graded entry with splash pad features, constructed in 2007.
Since those upgrades were completed, Marklevitz – who has worked at the pool for a decade – said the facility has come back to life.
“We’re getting a lot of local families, and we’re getting tourists,” he said.
Two other new services that have gone over well are water fit classes and free swims.
The water fitness program – similar to aqua fit classes in other areas – has been popular this summer. Next year, participants will have the option of paying per class, or registering for the class for the season, similar to the way parents now sign their children up for swimming lessons.
The free public swims have attracted in upwards of 200 people per session. Eight public swims were held under the pool’s regular schedule and three special “Keep It Cool” swims were added during heat advisories.
“The average attendance for those swims is phenomenal,” Marklevitz said, adding there may be a possibility free swims could be held on a weekly basis next year if approved by council.
“Really, I think the heat, the changes to the pool and the quality of our staff and lessons here have made our summer so successful.”
The Lions Pool wrapped up its season on Sunday afternoon and is set to reopen next June.
