MUNROE FALLS: Aracelis Torres of Silver Lake is a big fan of the swimming beach at Munroe Falls Metro Park.
It has been a great summer spot for the 42-year-old Torres, her husband and their four children ranging in age from 10 to 14.
“We are very happy with the lake and the facilities,” she said.
Swimming at Munroe Falls is relatively inexpensive and there’s room to spread out on the grassy area next to the 13-acre lake, she said.
The lake is operated by Summit Metro Parks, but the park district is starting to take a serious look at the swim operations.
That’s because the park district lost money in both 2014 and 2015 on swimming at Munroe Falls and at Silver Creek Metro Park in Norton.
In addition, swim attendance at the two lakes has been trending downward in recent years, officials said.
Swimming expenses outstripped revenue by $56,705 in 2015 and by about $17,000 in 2014, said Lisa King, the executive director of the park district.
In 2015, the district spent about $287,000 on swimming at the two lakes, and revenue totaled about $231,000, she said.
Swimming at the two lakes is an operation with about 20 lifeguards and about 10 concession workers, she said.
Those results are “not shocking, not troubling,” she said. “But it is a concern.”
The park district provides swimming as a public service to park users, she said.
Swimming is also an activity that is weather dependent, she said. Attendance increases when it is hot and steamy. It falls off in cool and rainy summers.
The Munroe Falls lake off South River Road got 49,361 swimmers in 2015, according to park statistics.
That is a slight increase from the 41,318 in 2014 and the 41,160 in 2013. But it is down sharply from the 60,000-plus swimmers in 2010 and 2012 and from the 82,124 swimmers in 2002, the highest number in recent years.
The park district purchased the private swim area off South River Road from the John Renner family in 1978.
Attendance at Munroe Falls could dip even more in 2016.
That’s because the park district spent $60,000 to fence off the swim area. It provides better control for the district, officials said.
Previously, anyone entering the park had to pay the daily admission or pay for a season pass. Now only those going to the swim beach will have to pay, and officials aren’t sure if that will cut even more into swim income.
Attendance is lower at Silver Creek.
The lake off Medina Line Road in 2015 got 11,885 swimmers. That is an increase from 10,830 in 2014 and 9,682 swimmers in 2013, but it is a decline from 16,292 swimmers in 2012, data shows.
The peak year was 2002 with 37,091 swimmers. But attendance at Silver Creek topped 15,000 swimmers in seven years from 2001-2007.
The park district is also wrestling with algae problems at its swim lakes.
Silver Creek was temporarily closed in 2015, but the algae problem was less severe at Munroe Falls. Both lakes are treated with chemicals to keep algae from becoming a problem.
Heather Stern, 39, of Cuyahoga Falls was not happy with last year’s algae conditions at Munroe Falls.
“It was disgusting,” she said of the algae.
Conditions this summer have improved, she said.
Tony Fiorilli, 49, of Cuyahoga Falls said he has never had problems at the Munroe Falls lake on his four or so visits per year. It can get crowded, he said.
Molly Divine, 19, of Stow, said she has been coming to Munroe Falls to swim since she was 5 years old.
“It is close and it’s a nice place to swim,” she said.
She was joined by Jake Allen, 22, of Akron, who was at Munroe Falls for the second time.
“It’s clean with no trash and the restrooms are clean,” he said.
Paul Sipe, 78, of Cuyahoga Falls said he was unhappy with how the park district has been managing Munroe Falls’ lake. He was especially upset by the fence being constructed around the swim area.
Bob Downing can be reached at 330-996-3745 or bdowning@thebeaconjournal.com.