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Parks & Rec Business
| Smell You Later … The only restroom or locker room experience patrons are likely to remember is the one that is unpleasant By Pam Kutsick Restrooms and locker rooms are the Cinderellas of your facility or park--they work hard and receive little recognition, unless they don’t perform as expected. Then, suddenly, they’re all you hear about. To head this problem off at the pass, you need to choose the right restroom/locker room design for your patrons (which means you need to understand your restroom/locker room traffic patterns and how your patrons use the facilities) and develop and manage effective cleaning and maintenance programs. Good Design Is No Accident A well-designed locker/shower room takes into account not only effective use of space, but mechanics and comfort. The guidelines suggested by the American College of Sport Medicine include formulas for figuring out the number of showers, lockers, sinks and toilets needed. Gail Fast from L& T Health & Fitness in Virginia says the designer must consider who will use the facility (by gender and age), the number of people during peak times, and how they will use the facility (before work when they may need to completely groom or just a quick cleanup). According to Fast, too often architects and planners do not allow enough restroom and grooming space in fitness locker rooms. In her experience, 25-45 percent of most locker room space is devoted to lockers and showers and, often, the women’s locker room is smaller than the men’s. If home bathrooms are any indication, it should be obvious that women’s locker, shower and restroom facilities need to be “as large if not larger than the men’s locker room” because women usually need more grooming space. Fast sees another common problem--improperly sloped shower drains. According to Fast, sloping the drains properly minimizes water build-up, which ultimately cuts down on maintenance and cleaning costs. Using easy-to-maintain materials and keeping an effective cleaning schedule are additional ways to keep costs under control and assure your clients a clean facility to use. Nothing dampens a member’s enthusiasm for a facility like an unkempt locker room or a crowded one. Perhaps the best advice Fast gives is to hire professional help to provide guidance. Architects and restroom/locker room designers have done this hundreds of times. They know how important simple, easy-to-overlook things, like a well-placed mirror (so patrons can access it without walking over to a grooming station), can dramatically improve the experience of the end-user. They can also help walk you through decisions on what gets cut and what stays when you’re fighting to build the best facility possible and stay in budget. Little Things Count Ryan Lutz, Building Maintenance Supervisor of Brunswick Recreation Center, located in Brunswick Ohio, has found little changes can make a huge difference in public perception and customer satisfaction. As Lutz tries “to do more with less,” simple changes such as upgrading the paper towels and soap and having shampoo dispensers in the showers lets the public know the center appreciates their patronage and wants their business. He also tries to find creative solutions to pesky problems that, at first glance, appear to require a redesign or new locker room to fix. For example, Lutz’s facility has only one family changing room. He has found ways to block off a section of the locker rooms at high family-traffic times (such as during swimming lessons) to accommodate parents with small children or to free up the family changing room for other patrons, such as elderly couples that may need a spouse’s assistance in changing. Lutz has found this simple solution addresses multi-generational use without a major remodel. The staff at Brunswick Recreation Center has also found it helpful to make sure additional staff is available at higher traffic times. With a few extra hands, the staff is able to monitor the locker rooms and head off any potential problems, such as wet floors, and spot cleaning needs, making sure rules are being adhered to so all can use the area comfortably. Studies show one of the quickest ways to see use and membership drop is by not providing members with a clean, comfortable area to groom. From implementing a more efficient cleaning schedule to offering a few amenities usually only offered by private facilities to investigating the use of “green” products, the building maintenance staff in Brunswick constantly focuses on providing a safe, clean and comfortable center for its patrons. Clean Air Providing a safe and comfortable environment for patrons to use doesn’t stop at the physical structure. Many facilities are choosing a “green” approach not only to cleaning and maintenance, but also to paint and pool water sanitizing. Besides the obvious benefits to the environment, going “green” protects workers and patrons from harmful vapors and residue. The Washington, D.C.-based Green Seal (www.greenseal.org) non-profit environmental group has drafted a standard for products that is science-based and accounts for not only the end use of the product, but also the process used to manufacture the product. Taking it one step further, the group also helps government agencies purchase “green” products at competitive prices. Whether your goal is to add a few “green” products or replace all your cleaning products, Green Seal’s Web site offers a comprehensive list of products that have earned its green seal. Going “green” does not apply to cleaning only; more and more buildings are using “green” paint and ultraviolet light systems to sanitize pool and spa water. The Cost of “Going Green” Keeping to budgets is necessary in both privately held and government-run facilities. As most will agree, going “green” is an admirable goal, but what are the costs? Steve Ashkin of The Ashkin group, LLC (The Green Cleaning Experts), suggests starting with a plan. He says, ”You can’t map the journey if you don’t know where you are starting from.” Look for small changes that can be easily incorporated. The cost of “green” products has dramatically lessened in the last few years. With increased distribution channels, a better supply of product and better performance, the cost of going “green” compares favorably with that of traditional programs. To start transforming a facility Ashkin recommends looking at the following items: • Paper products • Vacuums • All-purpose cleaners • Towel dispensers • Flat mops • Proper matting • Use of hydrogen peroxide-based products A change as simple as switching from multi-fold paper towels to large rolls can reduce consumption by as much as 30 percent--a real plus for the budget and the environment. It is now easier than ever to make a few small changes or totally make over your building’s cleaning/maintenance program. Considering going “green” is a great way to support your customer’s healthy lifestyle, and to keep costs under control. Pam Kutsick is a freelance writer and contributor to Camp Business magazine. She can be reached via e-mail at pkutsick@zoominternet.net. |
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