Ephrata may lower pool prices in August

EPHRATA - Ephrata may lower its pool admission prices to attract more people at the end of the season.

The city council approved an amended ordinance allowing city administration to set the pool admission price as low as $1 in August. Admission prices are usually $5 for children between 6 and 17 years old and seniors older than 60, and $6 for people between 18 and 60 years old.

Since the pool opened in 2002, the city has seen attendance drop in August, City Administrator Wes Crago said.

"In June, we average about 1,700, 1,800 people per week. In July, (we have) almost 2,300 (people per week) and in August, less than 1,000 per week," he said. "That's very consistent ... August is tough at the pool."

The drop in attendance is tied to fall sports starting, the Grant County Fair and children starting to get ready to go back to school, Crago said.

"We'd like to try to increase people coming down there," he said. "We're not attracting that many now. If we lowered it $1 perhaps we'll have a little better attendance."

Parks and Recreation Director Ray Towry said the city will advertise the drop in price, using public service announcements and the city's website.

Councilmember Ben Davis said the change is worth trying since the city can observe if the change in price affects attendance.

"Something is better than nothing," he said.

Towry pointed out the cost of running the pool doesn't change much with changes in the level of attendance.

"Whether you've got 20 people in the pool or 300 people in the pool, there are slight ebbs and flows in your expenses as far as your chemical uses, but for the most part you've got to have staff there," he said. "You've got to have the pumps running."

Crago added they hope the additional people would also spend money at the concession stand.