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Waterpark exceeds expectations |
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Tuesday, 15 July 2008 |
Manager: Passing revenue, attendance projections
By WILLIAM LANEY
Managing Editor
In the first nine days of operation for the Wapakoneta Waterpark, a city administrator says attendance and revenue numbers are higher than projected.
“The reception for the Wapakoneta Waterpark has just been fantastic, and the numbers are higher than we anticipated and everybody seems to be having fun,” Wapakoneta Recreation Director Jack Hayzlett said after Monday’s Wapakoneta City Recreation Board meeting. “I think the new aquatic facility is a great thing for the community and has been great for everyone who has attended.”
Hayzlett, who serves as general manager of the water park, reported attendance at the pool totaled 6,578 people during the first nine days for an average of 731 per day. At this time, he said he could not give a demographic breakdown from where those attending the water park live or a radius from which the water park is drawing people.
Attendance on Friday eclipsed the 1,000-mark.
This number exceeds attendance figures provided by a 2004 Brandstetter-Carroll-Zofcin study indicating a $1.3 million family aquatic facility would need 437 patrons daily to be self-sufficient.
During his director’s report, Hayzlett said Wapakoneta Waterpark membership is exceeding projections.
“We projected around 400 members and right now we have approximately 600 family memberships and approximately 200 individual memberships,” Hayzlett told the Wapakoneta Daily New. “I don’t think you can ask for anything better than that after nine days.”
This year, a family membership is $70 for a family of four and an individual membership is $35.
Next year, the price increases to $100 for a family membership and $50 for an individual membership. The reduced price this year is due to the shortened season.
Hayzlett reported gross income from the aquatic facility is approximately $48,000.
He earlier estimated gross income had to be between $45,000 and $50,000 for a 47-day season this year to make a minimal profit.
“I would like you to keep in mind that membership income will decrease as the season continues because most people will already have a membership,” Hayzlett said during the meeting. “It should be pointed out that with the crowds we are getting we are getting over $1,000 per day in concessions and quite a bit in daily fees.”
Hayzlett told the Wapakoneta Daily News he is considering being open on weekends in late August and early September.
“We will definitely be open the weekends in August and we will look at the weekends in September,” Hayzlett said. “In the past, weekends in August have not been very well attended after the fair was over. Obviously if there is great attendance the last two weekends of August when school is in session then we will continue on into September if we think the weather looks like it will cooperate.”
He also reported the aquatic facility rental schedule is full between now and the end of the season.
Board members discussed creating an Ad Hoc Committee, comprised of Advisory Committee members and members from the community, to review and to make suggestions to improve operations of the water park. They also could suggest capital improvements for the aquatic facility.
“The key time would be to evaluate this at the end of the pool season and I think you are going to see an averaging out from the first day of opening to the last day of being open,” said Board Secretary Don Arnett, who was attending his last meeting. “I think it would behoove us to create a committee just to brainstorm recommended changes, modifications, new procedures, facilities. You could get a representative group from students, parents, council and the Advisory Committee.”
Wapakoneta Daily News Publisher Dianna Epperly, who chaired a fundraising committee for the water park, credited Hayzlett for the early success of the waterpark.
“I just want to make note of the wonderful job that Jack has done,” Epperly said. “Without him being there, 24 hours per day, seven days per week, that water park would have never opened on time.
“He is just doing an excellent job,” she said. “He is doing an excellent job with the staff, he is doing an excellent job with the facilities — it is resort quality. I don’t know if we would have brought someone else in that we would have gotten the same commitment.” |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 July 2008 )
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