Reduced fees have created a real splash at Lumby’s swimming pool.
Three discounted early bird season passes were sold last year but that has jumped to 29 single passes and 31 family passes after fees were slashed by 50 per cent.
“It shows it must have been the cost keeping people away,” said Eugene Foisy, a White Valley Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee director.
Previously, an early bird season pass for a family was $270 and it was $135 for an individual.
Officials have pointed out that it costs the same to operate the pool no matter how many people are there given staff and equipment.
The hope is that by reducing admission, more people will lead to an increase in revenue.
“Our objective is to create activity and a healthy community,” said Rick Fairbairn, committee chairperson.
As part of planning for the 2014 budget, the committee will consider if fees will remain at the current rate or if further adjustments are needed to draw more people into the pool.
“The facility is an opportunity to get all generations in one spot and the rate structure needs to be looked at to facilitate that,” said Tom Kadla, administrator.
Also at the pool, it hosted 32 children as part of school district swimming lessons while there were 178 students there as part of Charles Bloom Secondary’s physical education program.
Up until June 17, there had been 552 swimmers take part in public swimming.
