The Cumming Aquatic Center
A special publication of the
The Cumming Aquatic Center
About this section The Forsyth County News is proud to present this special magazine commemorating the opening of the Cumming Aquatic Center. Inside you will find numbers highlighting features of the center, as well as a tour of its offerings. Stories by Crystal Ledford | Photos by Autumn McBride and Jim Dean
ABOUT THE STAFF Greg Little
Carla Wilson
Jeremy Howell
Jason Collins
Cumming Recreation and Parks Director
Aquatic Center Manager
Aquatic Center Assistant Manager
Aquatic Center Pool Operator
• Graduated from Cherokee County High School • Received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Georgia • Moved to Forsyth County to work for the Forsyth County News as a reporter and eventually sports editor, 1981-85 • Went to work for Cumming Recreation and Parks Department in 1985 • Became director of the Recreation and Parks Department in 1998 • Has overseen development and construction of Dobbs Creek ball fields, Dobbs Creek Recreation Center and the Cumming Aquatic Center
• Born and raised in Ontario, Canada • Attended University of Western Ontario, where she received a bachelor of arts degree in psychology and a master’s in kinesiology • Has worked in aquatics since she was 14; started as a cashier at her local pool • Began lifeguarding and teaching swim lessons at 16 and supervising thereafter • Has taught lifeguards for more than 15 years • Most recently worked for Disney Cruise Line • Has been married since December 2008 to Allen Wilson and has a son, Zachary, who is 1
• Graduated from Forsyth Central High School • Graduated from North Georgia College & State University with a bachelor’s degree of business administration in management • Started working for Cumming Recreation and Parks as a lifeguard at age 16 • Worked with the city as aquatic coordinator of the outdoor pool at the Cumming City Park • Lifelong resident of Forsyth County • Married for six years to wife Jennifer, has 2-year-old daughter, Adrienne • Member of Cumming Baptist Church
• Direct responsibility includes maintenance of the pools and total facility • Professional background in the pool industry includes 11 years in the areas of lifeguarding, maintenance, building, repairs and management • He attended Kennesaw State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science • He has been married for two years and has three dogs that he says keep him busy when not working • Looks forward to meeting many new faces at the pool this year and is excited to serve in his new role as pool operator
CUMMING CITY COUNCIL H. Ford Gravitt
Quincy Holton
Lewis Ledbetter
Ralph Perry
John D. Pugh
Rupert Sexton
Mayor
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
First elected mayor in 1970
First elected in 1969
First elected in 1970
First elected in 1979
First elected in 1993
First elected in 1970
H. Ford Gravitt is a native of Cumming and Forsyth County. He has served more than four decades as mayor of Cumming. Before being elected mayor, Gravitt served as a city councilman from 1969 to 1970.
Native of Cumming and Forsyth County, Holton has served more than 40 continuous years as a city councilman. Holton is retired from Sawnee Electric Membership Corp. with 40 years service to the company. Holton and his wife, Shirley, have two children, Gary and Nina.
A native of Cumming, Ledbetter has served more than 40 years continuous service as a city councilman. Ledbetter is selfemployed in the printing business and is the owner of Cumming Printing. Ledbetter and his wife, Barbara, have two children, Lori and Matthew, and four grandsons.
Perry is a native of Cumming and Forsyth County. He is retired from Sawnee Electric Membership Corp. He has served the city of Cumming as councilman for more than three decades. Perry and his wife, Joyce, have two children, Tim and Cindy.
A native of Cumming and Forsyth County, Pugh is a local businessman. He worked for 14 years with Wilson and Co. and currently is a partner in Pugh Brothers Garage. Pugh has been a city councilman for 17 years. Pugh has one daughter, Marsha, and two grandchildren.
A fifth generation native of Cumming, Sexton is a U.S. Army veteran, 1961-63. Prior to his career with Cotton States Insurance, he was in auto sales in the north Georgia area. Sexton has four children, Pam, Angie, Kim and Jason, and five grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren.
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Cumming Aquatic Center
The Cumming Aquatic Center
Facility opens with a splash
50,000
Size of facility in square feet
‘Can meet any aquatic need’
City of Cumming officials first The $15-million price tag was covstarted talking about improving the ered by Forsyth County’s 1-cent sales city’s aquatic facilities about a decade tax. About $5 million came from the ago. city’s portion of It may have the fifth round taken a while, of the tax, while but the final the remaining product was $10 million worth the wait, came from the said Greg Little. sixth, paid in “I think the advance by the Cost of construction community is county in being rewarded December 2008. for its patience The with this facility,” said Little, director 50,000-square-foot facility is divided of the Cumming Recreation and Parks into three specific areas: a physical Department. “This is a facility that therapy pool; a 50-meter competition can meet any aquatic need you may pool; and an outdoor leisure pool. have.” Both the leisure pool and therapy The Cumming Aquatic Center pool have zero-depth entry points, opened to patrons June 27, drawing where they gradually slope down. more than 2,100 people during the Little said that is especially imporfree opening day. tant in the therapy pool, where indi“We were expecting a big crowd, viduals in wheelchairs can be rolled but I don’t think ever in our wildest into the pool. dreams did we expect more than Besides physical therapy needs, the 2,000 people,” he said. pool will also house the center’s variThe $15-million facility is on ety of classes. Pilgrim Mill Road, off Ga. 400 at Exit Beginning July 11, the center will 16, on a 70-acre site that will eventuoffer a number of swimming lessons ally house a National Guard armory, for ages ranging from babies to Department of Driver Services facility adults. and a campus of North Georgia See OPENS | 4 College & State University.
$15M
Cumming Aquatic Center
120,000
Gallons of water in outdoor pool
3
The Cumming Aquatic Center FROM 3
Viewing stands, on the second floor overlooking the competition pool, can accommodate 750 people. “The pool’s deck area is large enough to also bring in additional The therapy pool tapers into a seating,” Little said. “With the maximum depth of about 7 feet, additional seating, we’ll be able to which Little said will be useful accommodate up to about 1,200 when the facility begins offering people.” water Inside exercise the faciliclasses ty, there later this are also year. three “For activity some of rooms the more Gallons in competition pool that can intense be rented water for priaerobics, vate events such as birthday paryour feet can’t touch the bottom,” ties. he said. There’s also a lifeThe pool also feaguard/first aid room, tures a Jacuzzi area where the center’s 44 with bench seating and guards can go on their competition warm-up breaks and take visilanes. tors in need of minor Next door, the comfirst aid care. petition pool is 50 Lifeguards A swim official’s meters by 25 yards and room will soon house holds more than working at computers and a facili800,000 gallons of center ty-wide sound system water. for use during swim Using a floating platcompetitions. form, the pool lanes Competitive swimmers as well can be adjusted to accommodate as day-use customers will also different races, Little said. have use of “We can two locker have 10 rooms, each 50-meter housing 54 lanes or 20 lockers and 25-yard eight showlanes,” he ers, while at said. the center. The comMax capacity for spectators The cenpetition at competition pool ter’s leisure pool’s depths pool sits just range from 4 outside the feet up to 13 feet 6 inches. The maximum depth competition pool area. Little said the outdoor leisure is beneath a competitive diving pool is a prime spot for families area. with children. Little said the competition pool can play host to any competitive swim event from youth to college. See Opens | 5
Opens
823,000 44
1,200
4
Admission fees Daily Admission (includes one swim session Monday-Saturday): Children ages 2 and younger — free Youth ages 2 to 17 — $4 Adults ages 18 to 59 — $5 Seniors ages 60 and older — $4 • Two swim sessions are offered each day, except Sunday. The first is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday and 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Saturday. The second is 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday and 3 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday. • Each session requires a separate admission fee. At the end of the first session each day, the pool will be cleared, and the second session will begin 30 minutes later. • Daily admission fee on Sunday includes the full day of 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Passes are also available on the following rate schedule Individual passes • 30-day passes: Youth ages 2 to 17 — $25 Adult ages18 to 59 — $40 Seniors 60 and older — $25 • 90-day passes: Youth ages 2 to 17 — $50 Adult ages 18 to 59 — $75 Seniors 60 and older — $50 • Annual passes: Youth ages 2 to 17 — $150 Adult ages 18 to 59 — $225 Seniors 60 and older — $150 Family passes • 30-day passes Family of 2 — $65 Family of 3 — $80 Family of 4 — $95 Family of 5 — $110 Family of 6+ — $125 • 90-day passes Family of 2 — $125 Family of 3 — $160 Family of 4 — $195 Family of 5 — $230 Family of 6+ — $265
Cumming Aquatic Center
The Cumming Aquatic Center FROM 4
Opens The 120,000-gallon pool features a 156-foot water slide, as well as a kids’ splash play area and lazy river. Brightly colored water guns, spouts, sprinklers and buckets fill the children’s splash area. In the lazy river area, Little said, “jets propel you through the water” and there are “rapids in the middle.” Little said one question many people had concerned the lazy river area. “They wanted to know if we would have floats for rent,” he said. “Actually we’re not allowing any floats in the pool other than a flotation device that you can wear on your body, like a life jacket. “You’ll have to just float on your body or walk through and let the jets push you through.” The outdoor pool is surrounded on one side by four colorful cabanas with picnic tables, as well as other shaded areas with seating. Little said the cabanas are available for rent for private parties. City leaders Lockers are proud of the in each center and believe it will locker room serve as a model for other counties. “We started with a grand plan and made it even grander,” Little said. “We think this is going to be seen as a model mimicked by others wanting to develop their own modern aquatic facilities. “No matter if you’re a parent wanting to bring the kids out for some fun, a serious competitive swimmer, or an arthritis patient needing therapy, we can meet your needs. “This facility can meet any aquatic need you have.”
121,000
Gallons of water in therapy pool
Rules and regulations In order to keep visitors safe, the Cumming Recreation and Parks Department has a simple set of rules for those using the Cumming Aquatic Center:
Outdoor leisure pool and indoor instructional pool: • Children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult at all times, but the adult does not have to be in the water with them. • Children younger than 6 must be accompanied by an adult in a swimsuit in the water with them at all times. • Children younger than 3 who are not yet potty trained must wear swim diapers at all times. • No floats, other than those that can be worn on one’s body such as a life jacket, will be allowed in the outdoor leisure pool.
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Competition pool: • Children younger than 15 must be accompanied by an adult in the same swim lane at all times. • No diving will be allowed by the public in the competition pool. Diving will be permitted only during competitive swim events.
86-88
Degrees Fahrenheit in therapy pool
Cumming Aquatic Center
5
The Cumming Aquatic Center
A tour of the new facility
13.5 Deepest end (feet) of large pool
8
Front desk — Visitors to the Cumming
Aquatic Center are greeted by staff members at the facility’s admissions desk. The desk is the place where patrons can handle all business, such paying daily admission fees, purchasing passes or signing up for lessons or classes. The desk is open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays).
Showers per locker room
Activity rooms — The
center offers three indoor activity rooms that can be rented for private events such as birthdays. The rooms are separated by wall dividers, which can be removed to create one big room for large functions.
8
Minimum number of lifeguards at leisure pool
Locker rooms — The facility features men’s and women’s locker rooms, each housing 54 lockers and eight showers. Lockers are day-use only and will be available for competitive swimmers as well as the general public. Indoor competition pool — To the left of the admissions desk sits the center’s indoor competition pool. At 50 meters by 25 yards, the pool is impressive. The pools lanes can be adjusted to create 20 25-yard lanes or 10 50-meter lanes. The pool’s depth ranges from 4 feet to nearly 14 feet in the diving area. Secondstory bleachers provide seating for 750 people who will have a bird’s eye view of the pool. The pool will be used for numerous swim meets and other competitions for ages ranging from children through college. Additional seating around the pool’s wide deck area can also accommodate up to another 450 people.
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Showers — Eight showers are available in each locker room, one for men and one for women. Women’s showers feature a bench area and double curtains for modesty. Showers and other locker room amenities are available to competitive swimmers and the general public.
Cumming Aquatic Center
$30
Cost to rent outdoor cabana for four hours
The Cumming Aquatic Center
A tour of the new facility
4 Shallow end (feet) of large pool
Outdoor leisure pool — Families with children will especially appreciate the center’s outdoor leisure pool. It provides a range of fun water activities, from splashing in the children’s play area to zooming down the water slide. The children’s splash play area features dozens of brightly colored water guns, spouts, sprinklers and sprayers of all sorts. There’s also a huge orange bucket atop the area that fills with water and then dumps all over patrons. The pool also offers a lazy river area where visitors can walk and be pushed along by the areas jets, or flat on the backs. Floats other than those that can be worn on one’s body, however, are not allowed in the lazy river. There’s also a giant yellow water slide for high-speed aquatic fun.
Indoor therapy pool — To the right of the admissions desk is the center’s indoor therapy pool. This pool will be home to all the center’s swim lessons and other classes such as water aerobics. It features zero-depth entry, or a gradual slope similar to natural bodies of water, to allow for use by patients in wheelchairs. The maximum depth of the pool is nearly 7 feet. It features a Jacuzzi area and bench seating, as well as competition warmup lanes that will be used in conjunction with the competition pool during swim meets. The therapy pool stays at temperatures warmer than the other two pools, between 86 and 88 degrees, to assist in physical therapy. Length in feet of
156
outdoor slide
Slide — A primary feature of the outdoor leisure pool is a 156-foot water slide that features numerous loops and turns. Safety will be the top priority on the slide as two lifeguards will always be stationed there — one at the top landing and another at the bottom pool area, swhere sliders make their big splash.
Cumming Aquatic Center
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A special thank you to the following:
191 Peachtree St. NE, Suite 2100, Atlanta, GA 30303 — (404) 588-3300 www.wintercompanies.com
7625 Majors Road, Cumming, GA 30040 (770) 889-2743 www.reidandreidcontractors.com
826 Curie Drive, Alpharetta, GA 30005
1905 Grassland Parkway, Alpharetta, GA 30004 (770) 740-8500 — www.tebarcodoor.com