September 9, 2013
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 9, 2013
For more information:
Jennifer Lawson
Moxley Carmichael
865-544-0088
[email protected]
[title]
Family fun and fitness continue indoors
The numbers heated up as people cooled off at the Kingsport Aquatic Center during its first summer season. In just over three months, the center welcomed area residents and visitors to its refreshing waters more than 100,000 times.
Between the May 17 opening and Aug. 31, the center’s indoor pools and outdoor water park hosted 102,143 visits, including Kingsport Aquatic Center one-day guests, season pass holders and annual members and YMCA of Greater Kingsport members. The number of visits is nearly five times the 2012 summer season attendance at Legion Pool, which was closed upon the opening of this upgraded facility.
“The number of visits to the Kingsport Aquatic Center during the first three months of operation has surpassed our expectations,” said Chris McCartt, assistant to the Kingsport city manager. “Children and adults of all ages enjoyed the outdoor pools and attractions, including water slides and lazy river. Now, as the outdoor temperatures cool, the fun and exercise will move inside to the indoor pool complex.”
Open year-round, the Kingsport Aquatic Center’s 46,000-square-foot indoor complex features three heated pools specially designed for recreation and instruction, including the region’s only indoor Olympic-size pool. A slate of aquatic programming and recreational activities will be announced soon.
“This recreation attraction was built primarily for the Kingsport community, but we can’t ignore the positive economic impact of thousands of people visiting the center from places in Tennessee as well as Virginia, North Carolina and Kentucky,” McCartt said. “Those visitors also eat, shop and stay in Kingsport, which multiplies the center’s economic impact.”
The Kingsport Aquatic Center has also become a very popular location for birthday parties and other celebrations. The center hosted 112 birthday parties over the summer. Parents of children with cold-weather birthdays can still enjoy throwing pool parties for them, regardless of the temperature or even snow outside. The facility offers private party rooms that open into the indoor pool complex, and more than 15 parties are already booked for the indoor season.
For more information about affordable membership options and party rentals, visit http://www.swimkingsport.com.
About the Kingsport Aquatic Center
The Kingsport Aquatic Center is the region’s newest and most comprehensive indoor/outdoor public aquatic and recreation facility. Located in Kingsport’s Meadowview district at the base of iconic Bays Mountain, the center provides area residents and visitors with the best in health, fitness and recreation features in a safety-focused environment. The Kingsport Aquatic Center features the area’s only indoor Olympic-size pool plus year-round swim courses and American Red Cross-certified water safety and lifeguard training. A seasonal outdoor water park offers recreational activities from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day. Seasonal, annual and daily rates are available. For more information, visit http://www.swimkingsport.com.
