Idea #79 – Combine Higginbottom and Underwood Pool Operations

Report Status: Fully Reviewed

Researched by: Paul Rickter

Original Idea as Submitted

Combine the operation of the Higginbottom and new Underwood pools to maximize revenues

Other ideas included in this report

  • None

Idea intent

This idea appears to be intended to achieve efficiencies by combining the outdoor Underwood Pool (operated by the Recreation Department) and the indoor Higginbottom Pool at Belmont High School (operated by the Belmont Public Schools) under the Recreation Department.

Weighted Final Score: 44 (Financial Impact: 2, Operational Impact: 2, Time Scale: 4, Ease of Implementation: 3)

Background Information

The Town of Belmont currently owns two municipal pools. The Underwood pool is an outdoor pool located at Concord Ave and Cottage Street. The Higginbottom pool is an indoor pool located in Belmont High School. Both pools have been renovated in the past several years.

The Underwood pool is operated during the summer months by the Recreation Department and is open to the public for a fee. The costs of opening and operating the pool are generally covered by the fees collected.

The Higginbottom pool is operated by the School Department and is used by students mostly during weekday afternoons. At other times, the pool is open to the public for a fee. Public access is limited to times when school is not in session, because the pool is currently only accessible through the main school entrance. However, when further work on the Middle and High School project is complete, external access to the pool should be possible. This would allow the pool to be used by the public more frequently, such as during times when school is in session and students aren't using it.

Recommendations

  • The Town Administrator and the Superintendent should consider consolidating operations of the two pools under the Recreation Department, with an agreement to provide access to the School Department at specific times. Consolidating operations under one department will likely be more efficient and less costly. For the Higginbottom pool, this arrangement would be comparable to the ice rink that is on School Department land but is operated by the Recreation Department.

  • The department put in charge should:

    • promote the Higginbottom pool as a resource that is open to the public, particularly once external access is complete.

    • research the fees charged at comparable indoor public pools in the area to ensure that Belmont is maximizing available revenues.

  • The Town should consider setting up an enterprise fund for the Recreation Department and including the two pools in that fund. Doing this would allow for a transparent accounting of all expenses and revenues and ensure that the costs of operating the two pools is covered by the revenues raised by fees.

Further Reading