Recreational facilities vs. Competitive pools

In recent years, a transition has begun away from traditional competitive lap pools and towards recreational pools equipped with slides, zero depth entry, and all sorts of fun toys. The appeal of this type of pool is clear, but it is causing the traditional pools to suffer. Cath Martel, athletics and aquatics manager for Round Rock, explains to Parks & Recreation magazine that "traditional pools that rely on swim team fees and memberships for revenue are no longer doing well. I'm not aware of any competitive pool that makes money. These days there has to be a recreation component. Bobbing around in deep water just isn't exciting and people want more." It is difficult to find a compromise between these two different purposes of pools. They are not even to be kept at the same temperature. Competitive pool are about 77 degrees while recreational facilities stay at about 84 degrees. This makes the struggle for traditional pools to generate income even more difficult. With more people being interested in enjoying recreational pools, it generates much more income for those facilities that may not have been made had a traditional pool been the only option.

Roberts, Rachel. "Pools With a Splash." Parks & Recreation Feb. 2010: 42-46. EBSCO. Web. 12 May 2011.

Recreation vs. competitive