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Webster Groves officials cite crowding and supervision concerns at new aquatic center; staff say changes underway
Summary
Commissioners and city staff discussed resident complaints about crowding, smoking and lifeguard visibility at the new Webster Groves aquatic center and described steps the city has taken, including additional staff and new attendants, while saying the facility did not exceed capacity.
At the June 24 meeting of the Old Webster Special Business District Advisory Commission, commissioners and city staff discussed multiple complaints from residents about crowding, smoking and lifeguard supervision at the new Webster Groves aquatic center.
Commissioners heard that the facility drew heavy weekend use after opening. City staff reported a single-day attendance of 1,903 and said the facilitys calculated capacity is about 1,800 people per hour. City staff characterized the day as very busy but said it did not exceed stated capacity limits.
The discussion focused on safety and the visitor experience. Residents told commissioners they had spoken with restaurant owners and other community members who said they were stopping use of the pool and seeking refunds for annual dues because of crowding and behaviour they described as disruptive, including smoking and groups staying all day. One resident told the commission a bystander had to pull a struggling child from the water during a particularly crowded period because lifeguards could not see the child immediately.
Scott (city staff) said the 1,800-per-hour figure reflects water and deck capacity and noted that weekend counts can create a perception of overcrowding even when hourly capacity is not exceeded. Parks and Recreation Director James Boyd (identified in the meeting transcript as director, Parks and Rec) described operational steps already taken: adding a full-time staff person on weekends, extra front-desk and restroom staff, a dedicated turf attendant to monitor the new turf area, and changes to concessions operations to reduce lines.
Staff told the commission they are monitoring issues related to nonresident daily passes and a local program that subsidizes passes for people who cannot afford them. Commissioners discussed reports from residents that some nonresidents use subsidized or low-cost passes frequently and called for clearer controls and oversight of pass issuance.
No formal motion or policy change was made at the meeting. Commissioners directed staff to continue monitoring operations, to increase on-site supervision as needed and to report back with any recommended operational or policy changes. Staff said they would continue to adjust staffing levels and front-of-house procedures as the facility settles into regular operations.
Why it matters: The aquatic center is a major new public amenity for Webster Groves. Complaints about safety or supervision can affect usage patterns, municipal revenue and local businesses that expected increased customer traffic from pool users.
What happens next: Staff will continue to track attendance and operational issues and report updates to the commission; commissioners indicated they will raise recurring complaints with city council if problems persist.
