Poor participation ends public swims in Q.C.

Just six weeks since the Queen Creek Unified School District Aquatic Facility celebrated its grand opening, the district is canceling public swim sessions because so few swimmers have participated.

Competition from nearby Chandler and Gilbert pools, which have slides, splash pads and lazy river rides, may be luring swimmers away from Queen Creek’s public swim times, said David Tait, owner of Gilbert-based EVO Swim School, which is running the aquatic activities for a fee at the pool through October.

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“We just can’t really compete with that,” he said.

The Queen Creek facility, on Chandler Heights Road west of Ellsworth Road, features an eight-lane competition lap pool, two diving boards, a shallow teaching area that’s 3 to 5 feet deep and two shaded bleachers.

Only four people showed up for the first public swim on June 2, and expanded Friday and Saturday public swim hours only had about 25 to 30 people show up per day, Tait said.

The price for public swim was even dropped from $3 to $1.50, but the lower price still didn’t attract the swimmers.

“The costs for guards was $1,900 for two weeks, and we made less than $200 with our public swim,” Tait said. “Our goal is to have it break even, (but even dropping the price) didn’t help.”

The Queen Creek school board agreed Tuesday to stop the public swim sessions since it wasn’t cost effective.

Board president Jeff Black said district officials offered public swim because they thought people would want it. But he agreed if it’s not cost effective, it shouldn’t be offered.

Instead, the pool will host a free public swim day from noon to 4 p.m. July 4. If there’s a good turnout, another free public swim day may be offered before the start of the school year, Tait said.

While the public swim hasn’t taken off, swimming lessons and the swim team are off to a good start.

Close to 200 families have signed up their children for the popular swimming lessons, with about 250 to 300 young swimmers learning how to swim in the Queen Creek pool.

Seventy kids, mainly 7 to 14 years old, are learning the competitive aspect of swimming as part of the swim team, Tait said.

“It didn’t overshoot my projections,” he said. “We just hope people will continue to utilize the pool throughout October.”

Jamilyn Baker, whose 4-year-old son, Stratton, takes lessons, said she is impressed with how well her son is learning to swim. During his first few lessons, Stratton was terrified of being without his mother and his floaties. He would run away screaming and looking for his mom.

But after private lessons from Tait, the family went to the ocean last weekend, and Stratton was body surfing in the water, Baker said.

“Now he goes straight in and is swimming by himself,” she said. “I’ve been so impressed with how they’re teaching the kids how to swim.”

Baker found the pool by accident after looking up swim lessons in the area. She said she didn’t even know Queen Creek had a pool.

“It’s a great little place, and a lot of people out here still don’t know about it,” Baker said. “It’s definitely still a little hidden gem.”

Queen Creek High School’s swim team will start practicing at the pool in August. Tait also wants to host swim meets and regional swimming competitions at the pool and may soon offer diving lessons.

“We’re grateful people are accepting us,” Tait said. “We’ve had a great response.”

The Queen Creek district owns the $2.8 million aquatic complex, which was paid for mainly through a $2.5 million bond voters approved in 2002.

If You Go

What: Free public swim at Queen Creek Unified School District Aquatic Facility

When: Noon to 4 p.m. July 4

Where: Queen Creek district pool, 20255 E. Chandler Heights Road, west of Ellsworth Road

Information: (480) 539-2660 or evoswimschool.com/queencreek