Revenue Up $15K Over Last Year for Crestwood Parks and Rec

Crestwood's Park and Recreation Board learned this week that sales on passes and entrance fees to the city's good-sized Aquatic Center were up over last year.

The total so far is $77,000 with the center opening the week of Memorial Day, in May.

While exact figures were not made immediately available, officials estimated it was up $15,000 over last year at the same time.

"We've sold more passes," said Todd Stover, director of Parks and Rec. An individual pool pass was $70 and family of four, $190. An individual business pass was $105.

"We're serving a good percent of the (city) population," Stover said. "We're still a majority resident pool."

At one time in the past, the Aquatic Center was drawing more non-residents than residents. The city reduced the number of non-resident passes available, but guests may come with a resident for a daily fee.

Passes are still for sale, with the cost dropping with each month of summer's passing. In July, it's two-thirds the original price, in August it's one-third the cost.

Residents of the Lindbergh School District may buy passes at the resident rate.

Board members asked about vandalism at the pool during closed hours, and Stover confirmed there was evidence of what he described as "pool hoppers" in June, with an empty beer case and broken lane line ropes in the competitive pool.

He said there are now additional surveillance cameras in place since the illegal actions were uncovered.

Stover also warned that off-hours break-ins were dangerous, pointing to potential drownings and injuries.

"Don't jump in the pool," he said.

In a separate incident, police arrested eight people who had skirted a fence at the top of the quarry in Whitecliff Park. Stover said at times people will jump into the quarry pool from there, which is equally dangerous.

In other business, the wooden bridge from Whitecliff's lower parking lot to the quarry path, is due for repair this fall, with a Federal grant paying 80 percent of the cost. Stover said only police and park maintenance drive over that bridge. Pedestrians cross over a stream via the bridge.

A $15,000 kit to build a wooden pavilion donated by the local Rotary is on track to be erected in Whitecliff Park, near the Aquatic Center and Community Center. The city will pick up the tab for labor and laying a concrete slab down—another $15,000 approximately.

Officials said they hope to see the pavilion finished by October. The city expects to earn back the money spent on it, over five years by renting it out for occasions, according to Alderman Paul Duchild, who is liaison to the Parks Board.