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Pines pending pool facility changes on tap for summer

By Greg Ellison

(March 12, 2020) The Ocean Pines Association Aquatics Committee was briefed on pool facility updates, rate increases for nonresidents, and food service changes slated for this summer in a report on Monday from Director of Amenities and Operational Logistics Colby Phillips.

Included in the association’s Fiscal Year 2020/2021 budget are daily rate increases at OPA pools, with resident charges remaining at $8 for adults and $6 for children, while nonresidents would pay $12 and $10 respectively this season.

“We left all of the resident rates the same and raised the nonresident rates up to a $4 difference,” she said.

Nonresident rates at the OPA Beach Club will fetch even more at $15 for adults and $10 for children.

“You go over the bridge and everything over there is much more expensive,” she said. “Some people publicize that [beach club] pool in their hotel if they don’t have a pool.”

Phillips said differentiating nonresident charges at the beach club from other pool facilities had been under discussion previously and moved forward after General Manager John Viola agreed prior to the board voting in the affirmative.

Beach Club upgrades on tap for this summer include exchanging a rusty door on the pump room. The replacement of pool fencing with brickwork has been completed.

“Before, we had brick, but we expanded it, because that pool is very popular,” she said.

After discovering last year the fenced portion allowed access for youths to dig and tunnel, county officials got involved.

“Because of the size of the fence, kids could dig under it and it became a health department concern, so we had to have it completed prior to opening,” she said. “Now it’s brick all the way around.”

Phillips said the entirely bricked portion would be more effective at blocking blowing sand from landing inside the pool area.

Again this year, multiple lounge chairs will be improved, not replaced, with assistance from Aquatics Manager Kathleen Cook.

“They’re the old frames with new strapping, which has saved us a lot of money,” she said. “Kathleen worked really hard on that a couple years ago so that we’d pick out the worst ones each year and cycle through.”

Phillips also said some new sun umbrellas are on order for this season.

Food service at a pair of pool facilities will offset this year, with the Swim and Racquet Club snack bar being shuttered, with new food delivery service being introduced at Mumford’s Landing Pool.

Phillips said despite two earlier successful seasons, a subsequent sales decline at the Swim and Racquet Club led to the abandonment of the snack bar this year.

“Last summer, the only times that we were busy was actually when there was swim meets and a little bit on the weekends,” she said.

After summer wound down last year, Phillips and Cook did a profit and loss analysis of the snack bar.

“We actually came in negative,” she said.

Phillips said the concept could be revisited in the future.

“It switched hands the third year and lost a lot of that momentum,” she said. “This last year we even tried just opening on specific days.”

Despite the change, Swim and Racquet patrons still would be able to buy soft drinks, snacks and ice cream, Phillips said.

On the plus side, new food service delivery is being introduced at the Mumford’s Landing.

Phillips said after broaching the topic with

OPA Aquatics Committee member Ellen Manset Hench, left, absorbs an update from Director of Amenities and Operational Logistics Colby Phillips on pool facilities during the groups meeting on Monday2

management members, food delivery from the adjacent yacht club would be instituted, likely from mid-week through Sunday.

“They’re going to offer a menu kind of like the yacht club, but a little more kid-friendly,” she said.

Phillips said the Mumford’s Landing offerings would not include adult beverages due to liquor license limitations.

“They’re going to do the food and then we’ll still offer the stuff that we do,” she said.