By TODD HELBERG
cnedit@crescent-news.com
Free swimming made available at Defiance's Kingsbury pool on Mondays has exceeded all expectations.
The freebies began on June 8, and have been sponsored by the Defiance Eagles, Moose Lodge (June 15), Defiance Optimists (June 22) and Lions Club (June 29) thanks to $750 contributions each has made to City Hall to cover the cost on those Mondays.
The Elks will be the sponsor Monday while the VFW is committed for July 13. Free swims days are planned through Aug. 10.
On the first Monday, 363 free admissions were recorded during the day's afternoon and evening sessions (noon-4 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., respectively). (The figure could include the same person twice if he or she attended both the afternoon and evening sessions, as each swimmer received free admission for the whole day. The number also includes admissions to Kingsbury's baby pool.)
On June 15, records show, 649 free admissions were granted followed by 861 on June 22 and 685 on June 29.
"I was thinking we would go to capacity during the day and maybe 150 at night," said long-time Eagles member Kenny VanStreader. "This is just wonderful. It was great that all the fraternals, veteran and civics groups pulled together and put on such a nice community project."
"I just like to see the kids have a good time," said city director of service Rob Cereghin. "People are taking advantage of it. I think it's great."
In addition to the free swimming numbers, the city recorded 78 admissions on June 15 to persons with passes, 122 on June 22 and 21 on June 29.
The city's admission records suggest a positive impact from the free swim days on pay days.
Following the June 22 freebie, attendance totaled 433 on June 23 and 526 on June 24, although officials believe hot weather played a key role in those numbers. Kingsbury admissions in June totaled 6,288, compared to 2,276 in June 2008.
According to Cereghin, the extra attendance on Mondays has not required extra personnel or additional expense.
However, it did create a couple initial problems which city officials say have been resolved.
In theory, the $750 contribution from the above groups would cover the individual $3 charge for only 250 admissions. City officials initially made anyone above that attendance figure pay the admission price. Only 12 did on the first Monday, according to city records.
The Eagles, who came up with the free swimming idea, wanted the freebie applied to everyone, regardless of numbers.
After the misunderstanding surfaced, the city dropped the cut-off point for free admission, instead allowing up to 350 swimmers -- as permitted by state law -- in the pool at any one time. City officials said this created waiting lines, but many swimmers have hung around until they could be admitted.
The waiting lines also produced a second problem. Some swimmers with season passes -- who had paid for admission beforehand -- were not happy about having to wait in line behind those given free admission when the pool opened. Therefore, the city decided to let these swimmers get in first, according to Cereghin, provided they were there before capacity was reached.