Pool needs city subsidy

Prospect will require continuing support; long-term planning needed eventually

A financial analysis of the city's Prospect Pool operation this summer shows that the pool will require a continuing subsidy of at least $150,000 annually, according to officials at a meeting Monday.

The city actually lost $186,000 this year on pool operations, although some costs won't recur every year, said city Finance Director Jim Gehret, explaining how the average annual subsidy would probably be lower than this summer's.

The pool remains in good enough condition to operate next year in much the same fashion as this year -- although well-publicized concerns over the long-term fate of the old and fragile facility remain unresolved, according to officials.

The city plans to include the expected annual subsidy in next year's budget, said Interim City Manager Nate Kissell.

Total expenditures for the pool this year were $243,000, while total income was $57,000.

Expenses included an $8,500 management fee paid for the Blair Regional YMCA, $18,000 for security, $20,000 for maintenance and a total of about $131,000 for salaries and "management labor." Expenses don't include "soft" support costs from staff, according to Kissell.

Revenues include ticket sales of $18,000 and $28,000 from concessions, although concessions actually lost money -- something that probably shouldn't happen, one councilman said.

Total attendance was 8,463.

Pre-COVID attendance was generally higher than it was this year.

It was 11,900 in 2019; 15,700 in 2018; and 16,000 in 2017, for example.

The most recent pre-COVID year when attendance was as low as the 8,000s was 2014.

The weather this summer was actually favorable: hot and sunny, one official observed.

But the pool hasn't fully recovered from the pandemic and its attendance complications, Kissell said.

Still, city officials are optimistic about the pool, in the aftermath of the city's second year in charge, following a takeover from the Central Blair Recreation and Park Commission.

Prior to that 2023 takeover, the pool had gotten a "fairly rough reputation," due to security issues, said City Councilman Ron Beatty.

Since the takeover, however, "there have been two good positive years," Beatty said.

"It was pretty positive all summer," said Mayor Matt Pacifico.

"Keeping people safe will bring the people back," Beatty said.

It will help also to add features that can appeal to young children, like spray park fixtures, Beatty said.

Within the next couple of years, council will need to make a decision on what to do with the pool in the longer term, Beatty said.

A consultant who studied the pool in 2022 suggested three options: doing nothing, rehabilitating the current facility and constructing a new pool.

Pool improvements were among a long slate of possible capital projects suggested to council by staff that year, with those pool costs varying between $2 million and $5 million.

A $1 million update might involve adding accessibility improvements, a slide, a climber and spray park features, Kissell suggested this week.

A more thorough renovation could cost about $3.5 million, Kissell said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 814-949-7038.