Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center (From Calvert County Government web site)
Prince Frederick, MD – In June of 2010 a much-clamored for indoor swimming pool was open for business in Calvert County. The county purchased land in the northern edge of the Prince Frederick Town Center, finished and completed a $19.9 million construction project. Over a half-decade later, the 41,000 square foot Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center in Prince Frederick remains operational but the county government, which owns and runs the facility has found keeping the pool out of the deep end of debt to be a challenge.
Calvert Parks and Recreation Division Chief Doug Meadows told the county commissioners during a recent update on the status of the jurisdiction’s three government-run pools that officials knew the pool would not make money. However, the aquatic center was badly needed since Calvert’s high school swim teams were forced to travel out of county to practice and compete.
In addition to a competition pool and leisure pool, the facility also has a therapy pool, spa, fitness room, conference/party room, men’s and women’s locker rooms, and two family/handicap changing rooms.
Meadows reported that the indoor pool is open 100 hours a week, 340 days of the year. In addition to swim squads from the four public high schools, a team from The Calverton School in Huntingtown also practices and competes at the aquatic center. Several private swim clubs also use the facility.
Despite utilization by schools, swim clubs and various organizations and entities, Red Cross swimming lessons and certification courses, the indoor pool has sustained steadily decreasing numbers since 2011, its first full year of operation.
Meadows attributed the decrease to forced closures for the purpose of repairing faulty equipment. The division chief labeled the repairs “major.” He also noted that the indoor pool’s management team has seen an unusually brisk turnover rate.
“We’re confident that now we have our equipment repaired and people on board we are going to see nothing but upswings,” said Meadows.
One indication that Meadows’ prediction might not be overly optimistic is the decrease is net loss. The aquatic center’s net loss for fiscal year (FY) 2015 was $389,745, down from $402,550 in FY 2014.
“We’ve made some great strides,” said Calvert Parks and Recreation Aquatic Supervisor Phil Ashworth, who noted all of the swimming facilities county government operates have good reputations for safety, with a total of 230 “saves” by pool lifeguards during the 2015 summer season. Most of the saves occurred at the Cove Point pool, an outdoor facility in Lusby.
“I see it [indoor pool] one day making a profit,” said Ashworth.
Robert Coleman, the new facility manager at the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center, concurred, calling the indoor pool “a facility that’s got a lot of potential.”
During the Oct. 27 presentation, Meadows told the Calvert County Commissioners that the aquatic center has never been the object of an intense marketing campaign, even though, “it’s the most challenging thing the county has done.” He opined that many county residents may not even be aware the indoor pool exists.
The commissioners offered few comments following the presentation. “We look forward to the day you do make a profit,” said Commissioner Tom Hejl [R – At large].
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com