ShawneeDispatch.com

Blia Her of Merriam welcomes the idea of being allowed to visit Shawnee's pools more often.

"I came today because I came with her," she said, pointing to friend Mary Jo Doyle, a Shawnee resident. "I would come more often if I could."

The idea is one the Shawnee City Council may consider this fall as it looks for ways to bring in more revenue in today's slow economy. But on Labor Day, the last day of the 2009 season for the city's two pools, many pool-goers at Splash Cove said they were in favor of keeping the status quo.

The city currently allows only residents and guests of residents or pool members to enter its pools on a day pass. Nonresidents seeking entry on their own must buy memberships at a higher price than memberships for residents.

Adam O'Rourke likes the idea that nonresidents who haven't bought a membership must be guests of a member or a resident. He said he sees it in part as crowd control; he can keep an eye on his young son better this way.

"Personally, it's nice to come up here and not have it be overly crowded, and that's a benefit of being a resident," O'Rourke said.

But O'Rourke also acknowledged that with the Schlitterbahn Vacation Village slated to open by 2011 in Kansas City, Kan., crowds might not be such a problem in the future.

Brian Seiler of Lee's Summit, Mo., brought his own son to Splash Cove with the O'Rourkes on Labor Day. Seiler said he agreed with his friend, especially considering the crowds at Lee's Summit's pools.

"I think it's a big perk for the residents," Seiler said. "I'd invite some of the Council members to go by some of the others that are open to anyone and see how packed they are."

Other nonresidents also spoke in favor of the city's current policy. Amy Cate and Sheila Wexler, both of Lenexa, visit the Splash Cove pool thanks to the city's partnership with Wonderscope Children's Museum of Kansas City, which allows museum members to use the pool just across the parking lot.

"I think if it's only Shawnee residents being taxed, they should have priority," Cate said.

She added that she got a Wonderscope membership because of the added benefit of getting to swim at Splash Cove, which she said was better than Lenexa's pools.

"There's nothing to do (at Lenexa's pools)," she said. "They're pretty basic pools; Shawnee's done a good job on their pools."

Wexler agreed that by opening the pools to nonresidents and nonmembers, she was afraid there would be too many people and the city might have to be more careful to ensure the pool wasn't over capacity.

Neil Holman, director of Shawnee parks and recreation, said the idea may not move forward anyway, because when the idea was brought to the Council during 2009 budget sessions over the summer, not many Council members seemed open to it.

Sean Keenan, aquatics recreation specialist, said overall attendance for the 2009 season was about 135,000. He said attendance likely was lower than last year because this season seemed to have more days of bad weather.

Keenan said pool officials do field complaints about the city's nonresident rules, but most people understand that it is something the Council voted on years ago.

"Typically we don't hear a lot about it unless it's the end of the summer and buying the season pass wouldn't really benefit (the nonresidents)," Keenan said.