Idea Portal view

Reinstate free adult guest privilege for single adult memberships

Not sure when this privilege was rescinded. I have a number of single friends that have enjoyed this privilege and it is equitable.
Thank you for considering this important issue.

Julie Smith

Adult afternoon swim

I am supporting Melissa Martin's request for a lunch time adult swim from 11 to 1 starting 8/31, once the students are in school. As a newly retired teacher I would enjoy more pool time without kids.

Julie Smith

Adult Swim After School Starts (Lunch time)

It would be great if you would consider having a 2-hour adult swim around lunchtime during the week, after school starts. This would allow many of the retired folks who swim and water walk a chance to get to the pool during the day and open up the limited lanes for the rest of the lap swimmers during the limited evening hours. This would make it better for all pool goers, as there will be less pressure to add an additional lane at night (sometimes it is often lap swimmers only for the first hour, so they add a fourth lane but then if a family shows up, they have less fun swim area). Making it adult only during the day would mean you only need minimal lifeguards (no rowdy behavior). Thanks for considering!

Jennifer Bradley

Lunchtime adult swim 11a.m.-1p.m.

I am requesting a lunch-time adult swim from 11-1 starting 8/31 once students return to school. I won’t benefit from this but several retirees at the pool have requested this and I want lend my support to their proposal. Thank you for your consideration.

Renée Haire

Reinstate adult guest policy for Single Adult Members

Subject: Member Proposal: Reinstating Free Adult Guest Privilege for Single-Adult Memberships
Dear DHARA Board of Directors,
As a member of the Dominion Hills Area Recreation Association, I am writing to formally request that the Board reinstate the policy allowing single-adult membership owners to bring one adult guest free of charge.
Our bylaws and membership terms dictate that each membership represents a single household unit. Under this framework, single-adult households pay the identical annual dues and assessments as multi-adult family memberships. However, a single-member household naturally draws significantly less operational resources, footprint and daily capacity from the pool facilities.
Reinstating the single-adult guest privilege is a matter of equity. It restores balanced value to single-adult households, allowing them to share their investment with a partner, friend or relative without incurring an immediate guest fee penalty.
Furthermore, this policy creates negligible pressure on facility capacity. A single member paired with one guest represents a far smaller physical footprint on the deck than an average multi-person family unit. This privilege would align cleanly with current DHARA Rules & Regulations.
Thank you for your tireless volunteer leadership and continued stewardship of the Dominion Hills community. I look forward to your consideration of this proposal at the upcoming board meeting.

Renée Haire

lunch swim hours after the kids go back to school

Hello! Can the board consider adding a lunch-time swim window in September after the kids go back to school? As a parent still shuttling kids before and after school, I could squeeze in a swim if the pool had lunch time hours. Thx for considering!

Kristin Gillig

Expanded adult swim hours after August 31

I'm writing to support the idea of expanding adult swim hours to include 11AM-1 PM after August 31 when Arlington schools reopen. If budget and staff availability permit, opening this window to supplement the 4-7 hswim ours not only reduces the potential for having to share a lane but also increases lane availability on those days when pool availability is foreclosed by late afternoon thunder storms. To limit budget and staffing concerns, you might launch this option for one week, assess rmembeer esponse (taking into account weather closures), and then determine whether this is a cost-effective way of expanding pool availability. Thanks for your consideration.

Richard Liroff

Sept Adult Swim

It would be great if we had a two hour adult swim from 11-1 during the week in late August and in September after the kids return to school. For sure I would take advantage of this midday opportunity

Thanks for considering.

Dennis Dimick

Fall Mid-day Swim

In the fall when the kids are back in school could you staff a weekday adult swim from 11-1? The weather is still nice mid-day and I think it would be a popular time for lap swimmers, treaders, and water walkers to come without having to watch out for kids playing basketball. Thank you.

Suzanne Gesin

Fall lunch time adult swim

When the students return to school, starting 8/1/2026, please consider an adult lunch time swim . 11:00-1:00. This frees up the lanes for those who don’t have the flexibility to swim in the afternoon. Thank you for your consideration .

Melissa Martin

Pool closing

I'd like you all to go back to posting pool closings (for the weather) on the website.

Brad Geiger

Please post pool hours on website

It was helpful to have the pool hours on the event calendar to track opening / closing. Thank you.

Eric Chen

More food options at concessions

While I know some of the frozen items menu were thinned out as they were not selling, I think there's an opportunity for some other items such as a few items that could be easily heated up in a microwave (Quick items like on a Amtrak train) or perhaps some refrigerator items that would keep such as hummus snacks? Not everyone wants ice treats but not suggesting real cooking.

Steve Wardell

Pool Handrail Covers

Recommend DHARA use pool handrail covers to protect members from getting their hands burned when using the railings while entering or exiting the pool! The railings get dangerously hot in the summer and these covers offer protection!

The covers are used at the ANCC pool, for a local example, and I have appreciated them when swimming at other private pools around the country.

They are not expensive - here is a link to one vendor for an example of the handrail covers:
https://www.royalswimmingpools.com/koolgrips-comfort-pool-handrail-covers-4-8-lengths-available.html?utm_term=&utm_source=adwords&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=&hsa_kw=&hsa_acc=9744442392&hsa_ad=380021891418&hsa_net=adwords&hsa_mt=&hsa_cam=6469794396&hsa_ver=3&hsa_src=g&hsa_grp=78961222033&hsa_tgt=pla-494733986312&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=6469794396&gbraid=0AAAAAD-qixXdCbWVHN0jY8dKlfL5-tXgQ&gclid=Cj0KCQiAhOfLBhCCARIsAJPiopNgZpd0Y0O3UU68aIgr7K8MaaQCHMLF9JiTvbd2z_Jquqc9D1JUIRYaAkZ3EALw_wcB

Theresa Schweser

Basketball court

Hello hello. Fantastic email about the long term planning for the pool - thank you!

One idea I think would be extremely well received is some type of basketball court. I realize there is a crappy hoop on the far end of the parking lot that is never used because it's not even functional. But you know what else is never used? About half of the front lawn. If you take even just 1/4 of the back part of the lawn (closest to Wilson Blvd) you could create a nice little basketball court, could have an adjustable hoop on both ends. I am confident it would get a LOT of usage by kids, teens, and adults alike. And there would still be PLENTY of front lawn left for swim banquet, volleyball, whatever it is used for (which does not seem like much).

Basketball court!!!

Thank you for considering.

Carlton

Carlton Davis

Geographic priority on membership

Hello, when I joined the pool in 1995, membership was restricted to a geographic area. Later that was eliminated. Today we have families with children living very close to the pool that have to wait several years to clear the waiting list. In 1995, there was not waiting list, and perhaps the geographic restriction was eliminated to sell more memberships. That is not the case today. I would like the Board to restore the geographic restriction on membership, going forward, at least to that any families on the waiting list that live in the local area have priority. This would not impact any families currently holding a membership, of course.

James Love

Diversity

DH should investigate different ways that we could be more inclusive of the lower income residences in the neighborhood. This might involve scholarships for good students that qualify for school lunch programs, some preferences on the waiting list, or some swimming lessons for children.

James Love

Kids nifht

Maybe a kids night in august …
I know a lot of 12 year olds who are sad to have their last one stormed out 🙁

Dianna Marlowe

New Pool Member Orientation Program

My family was fortunate to join the DH Pool last year as a full member, and the summer previous as an August/September member. We had been on the waitlist for around 5 years and frankly, i had never been to the pool prior to being offered the summer membership.
So when we were offered the summer membership, we were told just to come to the pool. I was not aware of how to enter the pool, where the restrooms were, or the litany of rules (hence why every new member walks across the separator between the tank and the main pool).

Taking in mind many put their family names on a list anywhere from 5-7 years prior - and finally able to participate with the pool - would be worthwhile to celebrate finally getting off the list and joining the pool by offering some sort of orientation meeting.

My suggestion would be to offer a beginning of the summer orientation meeting for new members to meet the team that runs the pool, perhaps a few board members and then do a tour of the facilities. No champagne needed - but just to help new members feel welcome and to put names with faces.
Thanks and excited to be part of the pool.

john gibson

WiFi

There are QR codes around the pool deck than I can scan with my phone in order to connect to the WiFi BUT can I connect to the WiFi with my computer? With swim team practices starting, it'd be nice to be able to connect to the WiFi on my laptop and get some work done while my kids swim.

Kelly Cronin

Call for Transparency in Hiring

It is essential for DH to implement a transparent and fair hiring process for lifeguards, front desk staff, and Quack Shack attendees to ensure all candidates are evaluated based on merit rather than personal connections. Establishing clear hiring criteria, standardized interview procedures, and impartial oversight (beyond a single individual such as John) will help ensure that all qualified applicants are given an equal opportunity. This approach not only promotes equity and professionalism but also strengthens DH’s commitment to community-building and ensures compliance with legal standards regarding discrimination and equal opportunity.

In the immediate term, the DH Board should investigate and share with the community the following:

1. How many individuals applied to work at the pool this summer?
2. What criteria were used to evaluate and select candidates?

In addition, the Board review all applicants who were denied a position to confirm that each decision was based on clearly defined and consistently applied criteria. If any qualified candidates were unfairly denied an opportunity, the Board should take immediate steps to rectify the situation.

The hiring process this summer lacked transparency and accountability, raising valid concerns among community members about fairness and the potential for favoritism. Addressing these concerns proactively is critical to restoring trust and ensuring a more equitable process moving forward.

Dominion Hills Member

Aqua Gym/Water Aerobics

I'd love to get a aqua gym/water aerobics class going for our members. I'm happy to help organize/research if there will be interest from the other members. Thanks!

I notice arlington forest pool has such classes:
Arlington Forest offers wellness programs aimed at improving the health of its members.

Water Aerobics
AFC water aerobics classes are 50 minutes in length. The class is led by an instructor who will lead you through a series of moves, typically involving a warm-up, cardio and/or strength-training exercises, and a cool-down. Typical exercises are a combination water walking/jogging, arm curls, leg lifts, and kickboard moves.

Summer Class Schedule
AFC is thrilled to offer three water aerobics classes this summer taught by Diane Vogel. Please see the following schedule:

CLASS TIME CLASS DETAIL
Tuesdays 11:10AM-12:00PM Runs weekly beginning June 4th and continuing until August 27th.
Wednesdays 05:30PM-06:20PM Runs weekly beginning June 19th and continuing until August 28th.
Thursdays 11:10AM-12:00PM Runs weekly beginning June 6th and continuing until August 29th. There will be no class July 4th.

lauren duboff

membership cost tiers

Allow for membership tiers for persons that don't have a family that is using the pool (eg, single membership, 2 person membership, 4-6 person family membership, etc). There are a lot of families that have kids that have "aged out" of using the pool and/or moved out of the area and the cost of a family membership is formidable, especially for single person households. I've heard that several single persons have had to give up their memberships last year due to the already high cost of a membership plus the additional assessments. There should be a more reasonable and inclusive approach to offer the DH community of swimmers.

cara voth

Reduced fees - long term, single members

Hi
When my family joined DHARA several years ago (10?), we had two children who enjoyed the pool, and two adults. Now the kids are gone, and my spouse rarely joins me at the pool. I'd love to keep my membership, but am finding it economically impractical as a single user. Most of my friends in my situation sold their memberships long ago, but I love swimming outdoors in the summer. There many possible options that could help single users like me - off-peak use memberships, pay-per-visit memberships, and others. These options would be for long-time users (10+ years) who are now primarily single (not family) users. My proposal is that you could sell my regular membership and offer reduced-fee options for people like me.

I am requesting this to be discussed at a board meeting, maybe even the one on 2/5. I have made suggestions like this several times, but I don't think they're heard.
Thank you,
Cynthia Core

Cynthia Core

Mini Golf Course at the Pool!

Hello! My 9-year-old son, Nicholas (Nico), has spent some time at Tuckahoe Recreation Club in McLean and would like to recommend (BEG??!!) Dominion Hills to create a mini golf course on the property. Tuckahoe (https://tuckahoe.net/) has a mini golf course in the yard near the pools and it's a great activity for when people need a break from swimming. He has inspected the DHARA grounds and has deemed several areas golf-course-worthy! I'm sure he would even help design it, if given the chance -- this is a kid who is VERY serious about golf. Please contact us if there is any chance of this ever happening!
Thanks!
~ LAUREN

Lauren Baldi