CENTRAL POOL USE, REVENUES UP DRAMATICALLY

When Randy Barnhouse took over operations at Central Municipal Pool in Cape Girardeau, his first priority was to spark interest in the pool and increase its usage.

At the same time, city officials frustrated that the costly facility was bringing little financial return decided to impose fees on many swimmers who have for years used the pool for free.

Despite the challenge to increase use in the face of higher fees, Barnhouse has already made great strides.

At Monday night's Parks and Recreation Advisory Board meeting, Barnhouse reported the average daily attendance at the pool has increased from 54 in December to about 100 this month.

A total of 776 adults and 979 children attended the pool in January, up from 425 and 574, respectively, a year ago. Also, revenue at the pool increased from $1,071 in January 1991 to $4,084 in January 1993.

"It's difficult to turn around a 12-year history of poor attendance, but we've done it," Barnhouse declared.

He cited several reasons for the increase, including the positive publicity that stemmed from the installation this year of a new "bubble" over the pool.

Renovations and improvements at the pool and a greater marketing effort also have helped, Barnhouse said.

"One the big things has been we're making the pool a lot more fun during public hours," the aquatics supervisor said. "The pool is a lot more fun because we provide water sports like water volleyball."

Advisory board member Steve Jackson, an avid swimmer, said he was delighted by the attendance and revenue figures.

"I think that's pretty impressive because the 1991 figures were when most of them were swimming free, and we still doubled attendance," he said.

Dan Muser, the city's parks and recreation director, said the "recreation product" at the pool has improved.

"I think people are willing to pay for something that's worth having, and obviously, more people are willing to pay now than before," he said.

Barnhouse said that when combined, paying swimmers, Central High School physical education classes and local swim teams, total nearly 450 people daily at the pool.

Other board members said they've heard many positive reports on the pool improvements from throughout the community.

"The people that I talk to, the general public out there, has nothing but good things to say about what you're doing out there," said board member Jay Knutson.

Barnhouse said he hopes to have similar success increasing attendance at Cape Girardeau's Capaha Park pool.

"We want to try to make it a little more comfortable for adults by putting in some tables so they don't have to sit on the concrete deck," he said.

Some of the water sports now popular at Central Pool also will be introduced at Capaha, Barnhouse said.

"We want to try to make the pool a lot more fun to come to without sacrificing safety," he added.

In other business Monday, the board approved a request by Chris Janet, athletic director at Notre Dame High School, to try and bring the Missouri 2A district baseball tournament to Capaha field.

Janet said the tournament is slated for May 17-21 and would include seven or eight teams. He said the tournament, if approved by the state athletic association, would "showcase" the facility.

"I think we have great baseball people in Cape," Janet said. "I think if we could get in this, I think it's something we could do on an annual basis or at least several times."

The board also endorsed a plan by the Capaha Field Improvement Committee to acquire a new scoreboard for the field.