Patrons of Centre Region Parks and Recreation’s two community swimming pools will see an increase in admission fees this summer for the first time in four years.
Todd Roth, CRPR aquatics director, said the increases are primarily to cover increased staffing costs at Welch and Park Forest pools.
‘We’ve had issues finding enough people to work and once we get them encouraging them to work enough hours to cover everything we need them to cover in order for us to be open all the time,’ Roth said.
He added that the pools have been ‘way below’ what other businesses offer for part-time wages and a more competitive pay is needed to attract enough qualified staff. About 150 staff members are needed for the two pools and wages vary by position and experience.
Staff shortages have had an impact. Last summer, CRPR had to close a facility or a pool at a facility at least a dozen times because there wasn’t enough staff to operate, Roth said. The shortages mostly were among lifeguards, but also included desk staff.
CRPR last raised pool fees in 2015.
‘Those raises were more due to increases in chemical prices for operating the pool, so this is really the first time that it’s more of a direct result of staffing costs,’ Roth said.
Season passes are available now, with a $10 discount for resident passes through April 30.
Resident passes (State College Borough and College, Harris, Ferguson and Patton townships) are $75 for ages 3-10 and over 65, an increase of $5. For ages 11-64, resident season passes increase by $10 to $105.
Daily resident admission for ages 3-10 and 65+ is $8, an increase of $2. For ages 11-64, a daily pass is $10, also an increase of $2.
For non-residents, season passes for ages 3-10 and 65+ increase by $8 to $113. For ages 11-64, non-resident passes are $158, an increase of $15.
Non-resident daily passes are $10 (3-10, 65+) and $12 (11-64), an increase of $2 for each.
Resident and non-resident admission for children two and younger remains free. Daily admission after 5 p.m. also remains unchanged at $5 for residents and $7 for non-residents.
To purchase passes and for additional details on the community pool, visit the CRPR aquatics website.
