Mt. Pleasant pool sees fewer swimmers during summer season

MT. PLEASANT - With a shortened season and a pandemic, the Mt. Pleasant Family Aquatic Center didn't see as many visitors this summer as it does in usual years.

Director of Parks and Recreation Gary Grunow said despite the challenges, he felt the season, which came to a close Sunday, 'went pretty well,” but that overall, 'attendance wasn't as good as it's been in the past.”

The pool's season usually begins Memorial Day weekend but did not open its doors to community members until mid-June this year. Pools had been mandated to close following a proclamation by the governor in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Going into the season, Grunow anticipated revenues may not be as high as in years past. Mt. Pleasant City Administrator Brent Schleisman said the pool brings in about $700,000 in a usual summer season and costs about $100,000 to operate. The city administrator said the gap is filled with property taxes.

'We went into this year knowing it's going to be a little tighter on the budget,” Grunow said.

To keep swimmers safe, the department implemented a host of changes including marking off 6-foot distances on diving boards and in the pool.

'We made announcements and had signage up, but some people took [social distancing] more seriously than others,” Grunow said.

The center did not offer lawn chairs and only prepackaged products were sold at the concession stands.

Capacity was capped at 250 people.

'We never reached that number at one time. I don't think there were more than a couple days we even came close to that,” he said.

The director added the department did not sell as many family passes this year, which is generally the bulk of the daily attendance. Grunow is expecting to have a more clear understanding of the potential financial impact in coming weeks.

In addition to lower admission numbers, Grunow said the pool had to invest in more hand sanitizer and disinfectant for increased cleaning procedures. With the end of the season, the director is finishing up smaller renovations with the pool before cold weather hits and hopes to finish painting and washing off slides.

Looking into the next year, Grunow said he hopes things will be 'back to normal.”

'It's all going to be strictly up to where COVID-19 is next year,” he said.

'We wanted to open the pool and offer something to do to the public, something for families to do over the summer,” Grunow said about keeping the pool open.