18-day makeover begins main updates for Tonawanda’s getting old Aquatic and Health Middle | Native Information

0
429

The Aquatic and Fitness Center on Sheridan Drive and Delaware Road was partially built to host the water polo competition at the 1993 World University Games, with the gym being added as an afterthought.

It was popular in its early years of operation before more private gyms opened in the Northtowns.

However, by 2015 the facility lost money, just $ 45,300 that year, before budgeted annual losses grew to $ 408,000 in 2021. In the past seven years, the center has lost nearly $ 1.9 million, according to the city budget.

That’s because the city’s cost of employee salaries, utilities, maintenance, and consumables like pool chemicals, even if membership revenue has declined, is the same or higher.

Losses are projected to rise to $ 838,000 next year under the city’s tentative budget for 2022, with member income projected to decline while costs return to pre-Covid-19 levels after the 2021 decline as the facility is for was closed for part of the last 20 months. The center has about seven full-time and 20 part-time employees.

It is “impractical” to keep losses at this level, said Mark Campanella Sr., the city’s youth, parks and recreation director.

The city paid $ 18,000 to a consultant, Power Wellness, to study the center’s operations, interview members, highlight key issues, and make recommendations.