Idea Portal view

Lap Lanes

The lap lanes are well used at the pool, but I would like to suggest that when the pool gets very crowded on some Saturdays and Sundays this summer, they take down one lap lane to increase the area available for recreational swimming. It sometimes gets very crowded and during these times I think it makes sense to have lap swimmers share lanes. Thank you for the consideration.
Tyler Smith

Tyler Smith

Lap lane white board sugn up

My idea is to have a whiteboard on the fence by the lap lanes. If you come and the lanes are full, you could sign up. You could then leave the area. Maybe each person could put the time they started using the lane so the people waiting would know approximately how long it might be. There could be a 5 minute grace period once someone got out. The person waiting would be responsible to keep an eye on the lanes.

Thanks for considering this.

Gaill Ammons

Tournaments

Hi,
I’ve been playing pickleball at Arlington Forest and wondered if DH would consider creating a makeshift pickleball court (or two). Just thinking there might be days/times when the side lot isn’t busy and it could be blocked for play. Also thinking periodic tournaments (pickleball, cornhole, badminton, etc.) could be fun for members.
Thanks for considering!

Andrea Brunk

expand hours the last week of school

Since elementary schools have a half day on June 14 and June 16 (and HS ends on the 14th) can we expand pool hours to start earlier on those days? It would be great for families (and teenagers who need to work!) thanks for considering.

Karin Kirchoff

Community garden

Is there a space to designate for a community garden? Seems like there are a lot of possible spaces and also an area that is already an unused garden.

Jeff Goehring

Music

Please don’t always blast music. Dave it for special occasions. Thx

Robert Moss

Hot Tub (s)

The baby pool is so out of the way that those with young kids have to stay isolated and far from other kids that may not want to be in the big pool or tank. I rarely see people using that area. If we put in a hot tub, the isolated location is perfect!! It would be uniquely different from the other Arlington pools. Its a great place for adults to socialize, extend the season, and help with muscle pain relief. If that is not possible, how about pickle ball, bocce or shuffle board (maybe not in the same location as the baby pool/hot tub). Stay tuned for more great ideas.

Stephanie Minkoff

membership dues?

Get rid of paying on line! where and what amount are the 2023 dues and where do i sumbit on linew?????????????????????????????VERY FRUSTRATED?????

douglas ammons

Swimathon

I think it would be fun to do some sort of pool-wide competitive/charitable event(s). I know SHBR does some sort of swim-a-thon and I think it would be great if we could come up with our own version of this. Two ways that come to mind:

1) An on-going pool-wide swim competition. All members can compete to see who can swim the most laps at DH during a certain time frame (e.g. the entire month of July). We could allow people to join the competition as individuals, pairs, and/or families and they could track their swimming (maybe using an online log using the honor system). They could pay a fee to participate and then a portion could go to prizes (gift cards, cash, a trophy, whatever) and a portion could go to a local charity. Coaches could hang a sign at swim practice so the kids on the team would know how much they swim each day to add to their family's account. I really like this idea best because its inclusive of everyone. We could have a variety of awards (ex. age group, families, couples, etc.). Perhaps a weekly leaderboard could be displayed at the pool or on Facebook to keep motivation high!

2) A one-time swim meet where everyone can participate (kids, parents, coaches). There could be real events, relays, and silly events. We could allow the membership to come up with suggested events. Everyone could pay to participate and the money raised could go to a local charity.

Andrea Brunk

Pickleball court

There seems to be enough land, either out front or below, to put in a pickleball court or two. It's a fun and social game. Our pool is secluded enough from neighbors who may complain and I'm sure it would be well-utilized. There are often long waits for any of the existing public courts in Arlington so it would be great to have an option.

Steve Guffey

September hours

Background: I remember as a parent of young kids I did not understand why the pool opened so late after school. Now as a parent of a high schooler (who is also a staff member) I wonder about the September hours.
Request:
It might be worth looking at the ability to staff the pool in September after school due to decrease of staff availability and who uses the pool at that time.
1) Fewer kids are available to guard. I see the availability of the kids who can guard and it is drastically lower than during the summer due to college and also high schoolers have schoolwork, coaching jobs, and activities that prevent them from signing up for more shifts. For Labor Day weekend my daughter signed up for 2 shifts (the Friday day off of school, and Saturday) but help was needed for the picnic so she signed up for that day as well…totally 27 hours for four days. And I think they were still short staffed.

2)In addition to staffing issues, it raises the question of who is using the pool at these hours?
From my understanding it is often adult members waiting to use the pool after school.
Maybe we could offer adult swim til 415pm with different staffing/check in requirements? 4:15 allows kids to take the bus (on days my daughter worked at the pool I am fortunate to have job flexibility to pick her up at school so she can make it in time.) The kids get out of class at 3:10 at Yorktown. We make it home by 3:30. For the pool to open at 4, she should be there at 345, which gives very little time to change, grab a snack, and get to the pool. (and her days start at 4am with her swim club so she can’t bring her wet stuff to school to go directly to the pool to guard).
Or just adult swim after school and then the pool is open to everyone on Fridays and the weekends? I think for adult swim we just have the manager on duty, I am not sure if that is the case or if there is a manager available? I know this does not help parents with elementary kids and younger.

Idea: To help entice more guards, I heard other pools offered over time pay for hours worked in September. I don't think money is the issue, I think it is lack of time, but it might help attract a few more guards in those months.
Thanks!

Courtney Desautels

Member Directory - search by first name

Hi -

Can we ,modify the online member directory so that it allows searching by first name?? Currently, it allows only last name searches - which is not nearly as helpful when you meet someone at the pool and get only their first name.

Hope this is useful,

Jim

Jim Schlichting

Stop the Slip

My family’s suggestion is to add a sand type covering or mats to the bathroom floors. They are super slippery when they are wet and we have seen several people fall the this swim season.
Thanks for the consideration.

Megan Woods

Cleaning Crew

Hi, DH Board Members,

I think we should hire a cleaning crew to clean the bathrooms 1 day/week. It can be something as simple & easy as Merry Maids, etc. We can work this modest fee into our dues.

I mean this in the nicest way possible, the bathrooms are gross. 🙂 And I know I'm not the only one that thinks this. Even my kids mention the bathroom - tons of hair in the showers, toilet paper all over the floors, brown skids (caked on) in the toilets (I think you know what this means, ha), etc. I know all of these things are going to happen in a bathroom - especially a pool (wet conditions) and families (lots of kids) but I do think there is an opportunity to make sure our bathrooms are cleaned. As a former lifeguard - 8 years and various pools - we were required to clean the bathrooms as part of our job. If this is not something we require our staff to do, that's okay! - but we need an alternative.

Happy to talk more, or explore options/prices for the pool.

Thanks,
Melody

Melody Jones

9/2 Pool Hours

If there is enough staff, can the pool open earlier on September 2 since there’s no school? Thanks!

Alison Fesler

Music on the weekends

During 4th of July weekend, there was some fantastic music playing at the pool! It really made it feel like some great summer fun. I'd love to see music being played all day Saturday and Sunday. John did a great job with the music!

Becca Moss

Water bottle refill station

Hi. I would love to see a water bottle refill station. I think this would be environmentally friendly and also used a lot during swim meets (instead of the plastic bottles) as well as during regular pool hours. I know the piping is an issue, but I would suggest not putting it where the current water fountain is as that area is not accessible during swim meets. I think up by the bathrooms would be great, or if it is easiest, even in the bathrooms (one in each bathroom). I imagine this was all discussed during the bathroom reno, but just wanted to put a note out there again. Thanks for all of your work and for considering.

Courtney Desautels

Fees for adult-only households

Hi -
My per-use cost is very high because now I'm the only member of my household using the pool. Is the board discussing any possibilities for adult-only or single-adult households? I have several friends who used to be members, but left because of this same issue.
Thanks,
Cynthia Core

Cynthia Core

Basketball

Kids love the basketball hoop but there is often a wait to get a turn. Possible to add a second one?

Jenn Wagener

Floatie Night

One night where everyone can bring noodles, inflatables, any kind of floaties and just relax in the pool!

Terri Schwartzbeck

Lap Swim Idea

On July 4th, the pool was open 11 am - 6 pm. It was a great pool day! To accommodate the high number of swimmers, the lap lanes were reduced to 1 and the deeper lap lanes were corded off to allow for more swimmers. Kudos to the pool manager who switched those back to lap lanes around 3 pm when there were more lap swimmers attempting to swim laps in those areas then children playing in the same lanes and the rest of the pool was not crowded.
Suggestion:
On those days when the pool expects to reduce the lap lines, why not add another lap swim session earlier in the day? On July 4th, a session could have been added before 11 am. This way, all members who have a day off can enjoy the pool. Just a thought…..

Marina Moses

Bring A Float Day

High Point Pool in Falls Church allows people to bring in their own float/raft during designated times. It is a really fun time for everyone! I think this would help change our reputation for being so stuffy, full of rules, and not family-friendly. See "Raft Night and Other Raft Sessions" on their rules page at: http://www.highpointpool-fc.com/pool-rules/

thanks for considering!

Kate Froeb

Pizza and Movie Babysitting During Adult Dinner

Would it be possible to setup a kids night during the adult dinner where parents could pay to drop off kids in the clubhouse where they would be supervised and possibly have pizza and a movie? I know for us that finding a babysitter for the dinner is the hardest part of attending.

Elaine Gallagher

Kids night rescheduled

My son love kids night and is looking forward to the party tonight. It looks like the weather won’t allow the party to happen. Instead of canceling, could you reschedule for next week. I think a lot of kids like my son love kids night and would be disappointed if the party gets canceled.

Karina

Ada Karina Bradley

Stencil the Thunder Duck on the Parking Wall

Please consider dressing up the newly painted parking lot wall with our new mascot, a Thunder Duck. Acquire a stencil and go to town.

Gary Wells