Pool Concessions Changes Successful

The beach towels have been shelved and the last doggy dip taken at the Grinnell Mutual Aquatic Center for the 2014 season.

Although pool attendance suffered due to summer weather patterns, concession sales did not.  A Community Transformation Grant (CTG) administered through Grinnell Regional Public Health (GRPH) assisted Grinnell’s Parks and Recreation Director Kelly Rose in finding healthier choices to offer at the center’s concession stand, and pool patrons responded.

Rose agreed to the CTG pilot program last spring and reports at season’s end that the changes made to concessions were successful.  She explains, “I was interested in participating in the grant because we want to promote wellness and healthy choices.”

With the help of Grinnell Regional Medical Center’s nutrition therapy department and the local grant team, Rose examined products offered by vendor Automatic Beverage of Des Moines.

“We went through the available list and looked at items that qualified. Portion control was one of the main criteria. I’m also very particular about items that won’t clog gutters with packaging or if they are spilled and have to be picked up,” Rose says.

Rose chose several new items to add to the concession selections such as trail mix, almonds, and an expanded variety of granola bars. She also eliminated some other offerings for reasons of packaging or portion control.

Because of the positive pool patron response, Rose says she will continue to evaluate healthy choices in the concession stand next season and encourages others to consider similar moves.

Rose says, “The process is so easy—I would encourage any business owner who has a vending machine to take a look at what they offer. One little change can make a difference for patrons to choose instead.” 

Rose points out that the aquatic center has offered other healthy incentives during its first five years of operation, including reduced admission for those who walk or bike to the pool.

The Poweshiek County Transformation Grant funds the promotion of system level and community design changes, worksite wellness, community complete-street initiatives, community-based food environment projects, and smoke-free multi-unit housing initiatives to improve the health of residents in the county. It is administered locally through GRMC.