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New Webster Groves Aquatic Center draws heavy use in first 10 days; city reports higher revenue and some parking strains
Summary
Parks and recreation staff reported strong attendance and revenues in the first 10 days after the Webster Groves Aquatic Center opened. Membership and concession sales rose sharply from last year; police and parks staff said weekend parking around a concurrent track event created temporary access and enforcement issues.
Webster Groves — City staff reported significantly higher attendance and revenue during the first 10 days of operations at the newly opened Webster Groves Aquatic Center, while public safety officials said they addressed parking and access issues during a busy opening weekend.
Parks and Recreation Director James Boyd told the council that, despite two weather‑related closures during the first 10 days, the facility logged a 66% increase in membership check‑ins compared with the same period last year and a 68% rise in total revenue. “We have had 3,677 membership scans this year compared with 2,213 in the first 10 days of 2024,” Boyd said. He reported $49,946.74 in gross receipts for the first 10 days of 2025 versus $29,679.75 in 2024.
Other headline numbers Boyd provided: resident ID scans rose to 2,321 (from 1,962); concession items sold rose to roughly 6,000 (from 4,474), producing $18,616.75 in concession revenue; total facility check‑ins were 5,998 versus 4,175 the prior year. Boyd also noted reusable/sustainability efforts: 677 recyclable cups collected and 138 souvenir‑cup refills recorded.
Assistant Police Chief Eric Weimer said the police department has a proactive schedule of hourly walkthroughs and planned increased presence at the pool on weekends to engage the public and monitor safety. He said officers responded to parking congestion during a high‑school track meet that coincided with a busy pool weekend and that enforcement actions included issuing tickets; the department stopped short of towing vehicles so emergency apparatus could reach calls. Weimer reported the department supported emergency responses to two medical incidents at the track: a seizure and a heat‑related issue.
Boyd credited staff and volunteers for the quick ramp up and said teams continue to make operational adjustments — comparing the opening to “moving into a new home” and rearranging as they learn where changes are needed.
Council members praised the staff work and asked residents for patience while crew and public safety fine‑tune operations. Mayor Laura Arnold and Council Member Davis (remarks recorded in the meeting) noted the project came in under budget, freeing Prop W dollars for other projects.
What residents should know: the pool was closed two days shortly after opening because of inclement weather; the city asks drivers to be mindful of narrow residential streets near the recreation center and to consider walking or alternate transport on busy days. Staff said they will adjust parking and traffic management for major concurrent events to reduce conflicts.
The council did not take any direct spending action at the meeting; staff will continue operational adjustments and return with any recommendations that require council approval.
