HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 06-03 YMCA will manage Maplewood pools, area beaches MAPLEWOOD REVIEW2/11/2016 YMCA will manage Maplewood pools, area beaches I Lillie Suburban Newspapers - LillieNews.com
YMCA will manage Maplewood
pools, area beaches
Submitted by admin1 on Wed, 06/03/2015 - 12:OOam
By: Erin Hinrichs
City s arrangement will help stem financiallosses
The city of Maplewood recently announced it has entered into a new operational partnership with the YMCA, which will be
assuming responsibility for management of the Maplewood Community Center's aquatics programs, along with supporting
overall marketing efforts.
"We are very excited about this partnership and what it means for the children and families we serve," Parks and Recreation
director DuWayne Konewko said in a press release. "The YMCA has an impressive track record of creating powerful
collaborative relationships with other cities, schools and community organizations and its expertise in aquatics, fitness and
healthy living will help us better meet the needs of our residents."
Looking to break even
"We haven't had success there for 20 years," council member Bob Cardinal said of the Maplewood Community Center.
"Anybody that can help us learn how to market that facility or utilize it or bring more activity there is best."
Back when the MCC was built, it fit a nationwide trend of cities looking to provide residents with a place for people to gather,
swim, exercise, take classes or go to a theatrical production. Over the years, however, Mayor Nora Slawik says the MCC fell
victim to the same financial hardships that affected other city -owned community centers.
"As elected officials, we are responsible to the taxpayers and we should work to help manage the community center to break
even," Slawik said. "It's been very difficult over the years for the council and staff to figure out how to do that. We've lost
money [and] we're trying to turn that around."
As outlined in the contract, the YMCA has agreed to a fee and revenue sharing plan that would allow the city to essentially
break even on the partnership.
Through 2018, the city will pay the YMCA an annual fee of $157,500 for managing and operating the MCC aquatic center,
along with $30,000 to manage the city's beach contracts and $70,150 for marketing and management services. Payments
were adjusted to reflect late start dates this year.
In turn, the city will retain all revenue generated from beach contracts and pool rentals, keep 25 percent of participant fee
revenues collected from swimming lessons and receive an annual maintenance fee.
As the partnership matures, city staff anticipate the MCC aquatics program's profits will be equal to its expenses.
Pointing out areas of growth, Konewko said the YMCA will be adding two new swimming lessons, to start, bringing the total
offering up to six classes.
"in doing that, we hope to get new families in our facility," Konewko said, adding he hopes new traffic translates into new
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memberships as well
In addition to a six -lane lap pool and a leisure pool with a children's water play area in the shallow end and a 120 -foot water slide,
the Maplewood Community Center offers users a banquet room, a child care facility, a two -court gymnasium for basketball,
volleyball, floor hockey and other activities, space for hosting private events like birthday parties, racquetball and wallyball courts, a
performing arts theater, as well as strength and cardio centers.
Leading with swimming lessons
City staff presented the details of the proposed city of Maplewood -YMCA partnership agreement to council members at a Feb. 23
workshop. A key player in the partnership — Shane Hoefer, executive director of the White Bear Lake Area YMCA and the White
Bear Lake Area Schools YMCA Aquatic Center — fielded questions at the workshop.
In a phone interview, Hoefer explained the partnership was equally appealing to the YMCA.
"As a nonprofit looking to serve the community, any time that a community seeks out the Y and engages us in a conversation
about collaboration, it's something we're excited to do and be a part of," he said.
The YMCA will start offering swimming classes on June 15, implementing its nationally -recognized curriculum to teach water safety
skills and connect students with the health benefits of swimming.
"The YMCA format is ... as good as, if not better than, any swimming program you can find in Minnesota," Hoefer said.
Hoefer also said the YMCA hopes to both keep traditional holiday -themed aquatics events at the MCC while adding new ones to
the mix.
As for lifeguard training, YMCA certification classes will soon be held at the MCC.
Additionally, the YMCA obtained grant funding from the Hawkins Foundation and Abbey's Hope Foundation to offer free water
safety classes to 250 local youth. Hoefer said they'll work with area schools to identify kids most in need of the lessons. Likewise,
they've been surveying local demographics to better understand where future programming needs might exist.
New hires
According to Konewko, lifeguards currently employed by the MCC will first be given the opportunity to continue their employment
under the new management.
However, not all city -employed staff members were so fortunate.
"There will be a reduction in city MCC staff, as a result of this [partnership]," Konewko said.
Most notably, one executive position was cut to bring on a new YMCA program executive, Susannah Peterson, was brought on
board.
She comes to the MCC with more than eight years of experience working for YMCA, first in Dallas and Houston, then the Twin
Cities.
"I think she's someone who's really going places, and we're lucky to have a manager of her abilities and background," Slawik said.
Erin Hinrichs can be reached at 651-748-7814 and ehinrichs@lillienews.com. Follow her at twitter.com/EHinrichsNews.
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