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<br /> <br />11 I Clly of Redwood City <br /> <br />Trends Analysis <br /> <br />ilfller Exercise <br /> <br />Nol only is swimming popular hut t.here is increasing demand <br />for \vatc~r t'xercise, Water eXfl'cise is reported to have a higher <br />pl'rcC'nlage of gl'Owth in participation than all other forms or <br />walf'r activity. Walf'r ('xercis(~ is just, t.hat - p-xel'cise performc>(f <br />in the watt'r. Exerdses can he per[ol'med wit.h or without pool <br />l'quiplllL'1l1 (such as Ilual devices!. aud ill diITering deplhs ul <br />\\'atf.r. With \\'al(~r supporting up to 90% of one's hody weight. <br />persons of all ages and ahilities can achieve movement in the <br />water. I,'urther, since exel'cises can be performed in shallow <br />or' (j('(.p water. it encouragrs non-swimmers <br />to participate. <br /> <br />Thr. h(~nf~fits Of\\'iltfT (>xerclsf. <br />ha\'f' long heen known among <br />physicians. pain clinics. <br />alhlt.tic trainers and other <br />healthcare pl'Ofessionals. <br />RIlldi(~s have demonsll'al,ed the <br />l.lcncrits of water exercise for <br />r('habilitatlon, injury prevention <br />and pain managemtml.. Arthritis <br />patients, as an example. have an <br />increased range of motion and more <br />nexihllity in watel' thaI allows them <br />to improve their physical condition. POl' <br />~1~(h\Oud City's aging pupulatiun, the l>enelils of walel' <br />exercise can be immeasurable. In order to better serve this <br />aging populat.ion and to provide aquatic t,herapy programs, <br />('ommunlly facilities have developed pools with warm-waler <br />areas designed to support these programs, Often lhe area for <br />therapy is incorporated into the leisure pool. which typically <br />is maintained at a wateI' temperature suitable for aquatic <br />the I'a py, Older adult.s and persons in need of therapy are not <br />Ihf' only residents that can benefit frum water exercise, There <br />Is also a growing trend t.o extend the appeal t.o younger fitness <br />('nlhusiasts hy offering a variety of programs such as water <br />hoxing and deep wat.er walking and running, <br /> <br />THE <br /> <br />SPOrts Management <br />II.. . G R 0 U P <br />~ <br />~ <br /> <br />7A <br />Page 17 <br /> <br />Family Aquatic Centers <br /> <br />The origins of the "family aquatic center" in the United <br />SIBIl'S can he tracc(J to t.hc early 1 B80's. Around r.hal <br />time, communities hegan rf'lhinking the tra(Jltional pool <br />thaI. is a rect.angular hody of water', possihly with a (living <br />\vpll. h(JI'(lerell by a [,hin rihtJon of concretr and encircled <br />hya tall feller, TIle family aquatic eenlCI' responded to <br />a nf'I'd for in('rp.as(~c1 and morp varierl programming and <br />accessihillty and clccl'easecl density, F'ealums sllch as a <br />zerO-depth (lleach) enll'Y, waLeI' slides. leisure and acLlvlly <br />areas. and interactive water play features provide <br />I.IIp attraction for families. Thc's('" features art' <br />critical to the annual participation and the <br />.:} fincmcial SUC('r.ss of th(~ facilily, II is thr. <br />.. entertainmenl value Ihal. at.tl'acts usel's <br />. and (Jrives the frequency of use. <br /> <br />~ . I Today. the increasing aqual ic <br />recreational needs and intel'ests of <br />the public aI'l~ pushing t.hese concepts <br />fUl'll1er. Public facilities are adding <br />elf~ments that a decadr. ago \vere found <br />only in commercial water' par'ks. Elements <br />such as lazy rivers. themec1 activity structures. <br />wave pools and ['all. I'ides Clrp now commonplace <br />in I'egional family aquatic centers. The slate-of-the- <br />art family aquat.ic center incorporates picnic al'eas, birthday <br />party rooms and packages. shade structures, an array of play <br />reat.ures and conveniences For families including ample deck <br />or lawn for families and gl'Oups to spend a day at. the pool. <br />The family recreation pool is a social gathel'ing place fOl' <br />t.h(~ community. <br /> <br />SpraygroumJs <br /> <br />Pel'haps the newest trend in pl'Ovirling aquatic I'eereatlon <br />is the spl'aygrollnd. These wat.er playgrounds incorporate <br />val'ious types of water elemenls. Spraygl'Ounds aI'e composed <br />of Cl relatively nClt surfClce covered with COIOI'ful resilient <br />surfacing and interacliw.l water ~I)l'ays emanating from the <br />ground a~ well as vertical play elernf'I1l.s. Spraygrollnc1s <br />are located in pal'ks or within a larger aquatic complex. <br />Spraygl'OuncJs emllody lhe current approach toward <br />accessibility. safety. innovallon and CJ[[orc1alJllit.y, <br />