How does CCRA determine the fees for each category of CCRA usage?

Over the last several years, inflationary pressures have necessitated increases in dues in all categories of membership and limited use as well as our initiation and capital assessment fees. This year we applied an approximate 5% increase to each category, which includes the cost of processing credit card payments. Net of CC processing fees, the increase is in line with recent CPI data. This will keep the club on a sound financial footing as we move forward.

For the 2025 season, we will continue our program of facility maintenance and improvement with two significant necessary investments: we plan to resurface the upper parking lot given the significant wear and tear and resurface the walking path from the upper parking lot to the pool entrance walkway. This project should result in improved parking, safety and maneuverability. The walkway project is required due to the bamboo growth which is an ongoing battle, and this is required every few years as a result.

Other recent projects include the lap pool resurfacing and replacement of coping stones; and resurfacing the tennis courts and painting them to accommodate additional pickleball play capability. In addition, the maintenance of our beautiful trees both around the pool and around the Fairchild House are necessary to create the canopy of shade we have all come to enjoy at the pool. All these capital improvement projects are required to ensure the CCRA environment is safe and maintained for the long term while providing the standards that members have come to enjoy and expect.

Why can’t we eat in the grass area near the pool? Why can’t we bring our own food to eat in the screened porch area?

First and foremost, we want to avoid insects, especially bees, becoming a nuisance in this area. We also want to prevent rodents and other animals from coming into this area.  Second, allowing food invites trash which is unsightly and smelly. We do not have staff to clean up trash from the pool area. Water, in plastic containers, are allowed poolside.

CCRA families have wanted us to continue to have a contractor provide café services.    To entice a food vendor to provide these services for the limited time of the summer season they must be able to make a reasonable profit. With a café contractor, their staff does the cleaning up around the café and in the screened pavilion. If family members were allowed to bring in food to café area and the screened in pavilion, there would be a disincentive to purchase food from the café. In addition, the café staff (which is extremely limited) would need to clean up after customers who did not purchase food from the café. In fact, through our discussions with café contractors, we have been told that no contractor would be willing to serve in this capacity if outside food is allowed in the café area.

CCRA does allow, and encourages, families to enjoy food that they bring from home in the picnic area near the parking lot or in the tiered area via the path near the tennis courts.

Why do we have to pay guest fees for tennis guests, nannies, caregivers, and grandparents?
To keep four fees as low as possible and still meet our budgets, we benefit from having guest fees in which non CCRA families, who pay nothing towards the upkeep of CCRA, can use our facilities. There must be some delineation as to who a member of a CCRA family is and who is not. Nonfamily members living in a home are not considered inclusive in a family’s membership. Family members (e.g., adult children, grandparents etc.) not living in the home of the family with membership cannot be considered a part of a family’s membership.

In terms of nannies or caregivers, a pass which is cheaper than a daily individual guest fees is available. If a caregiver, nanny or grandparent just leaves off a child for swim practice and does not enter the pool area there is no fee.

For similar reasons as cited above, tennis guest fees are required. Tennis playing members who will frequently have guests are encouraged to purchase a book of guest fees in advance. The reservation system will require a guest pass for any reservation with a guest.

Why can’t more families become full-time members? 

Montgomery County sets the limit of how many full-time members we can have. This was set up as part of an agreement when the lap pool was being built. The decision was that the number of permanent member families could not be increased beyond what it was prior to opening the lap pool. In addition, concerns from the nearby community over additional traffic and noise were of concern if the pool were to expand its membership because of having the lap pool and swim team. To avoid potential community conflicts and possible lawsuits CCRA agreed with Montgomery County to voluntarily limit membership as a concession to obtain support of the club’s request to construct the lap pool.

In addition to the above issues, our parking capacity is extremely limited. During very busy times (swim meets, weekends and holidays) it is difficult to find a parking space. There are no other areas that we can provide parking on the CCRA site. We must pay MNCPPC (Montgomery County parks) a fee to park on the grassy hill (which is county property) and we are only allowed to park their occasionally and not at all if the ground is wet. So, our number of permanent members is locked in. This is why we offer so many other kinds of memberships during the summer including non-permanent memberships and partial summer memberships.

Why do I have to be signed in at the front desk by a staff member? Why can’t I just sign myself in?

Obtaining accurate information about how many people are using the pool and at what times is important to us. We use this information in determining schedules for lifeguards.  Sign in by a staff member avoids individuals coming to the pool without proper adult supervision and ensures they have the correct membership at the time. In addition, staff often double checks to make sure a family’s number is correct as many family members will forget their number.

Why does there have to be adult swim every hour for 15 minutes, especially when often no one uses the pool during this period?

Adult swim serves three important functions. One, it ensures that all children have a built-in rest period every 45 minutes and forces them to take care of “business” in the bathrooms. Two, this time allows time for lifeguards to “reset” (e.g.  restocking bathrooms, emptying trash, “cleaning” bathrooms, chemical testing, etc.) Three, this brief time provides an opportunity for adults to enjoy the pool when it is a little calmer and quieter.