Winter often brings more people to indoor recreation facilities. The weather conditions, additional programming, and increased foot traffic can all impact how staff maintain these facilities.
The challenges recreation centers face during the winter can be addressed with some planning, procedures, and maintenance routines. Staff training on all levels also helps create a culture focused on safe, functional, and clean facilities.
Get some actionable steps to help keep your facilities at their best this winter. Also, learn some of the unique maintenance needs for the more specialized areas in your recreation centers.
Preparing Recreation Facilities for Winter
You want to ensure storage closets are stocked with the necessary supplies, staff are on the same page, and facility systems are operating at their best. Here are some ways to accomplish this:
Check Inventory
An increase in visitors means more supplies may be required for cleaning and sanitizing. Check inventory records from previous years to help determine the supplies your team will need. Be sure you have an open communication line with your vendors if more supplies are needed in a hurry.
Make outdoor snow removal supplies easily accessible during winter weather. Have staff routinely check inventory levels or track them automatically using maintenance management software.
Train Staff
Maintaining the interior of a recreation center during the winter requires careful collaboration between your maintenance staff, recreation staff, and administrators. Prior to winter, hold an in-service for all staff in your facility about winter preparedness and safety.
Topics could include:
- Communication During Severe Winter Weather
- Slip-and-Fall Prevention Indoors/Out
- Effective Use of HVAC Systems
- Areas to Check During Extreme Cold
- Winter Weather Related Illness and First Aid
- Importance of Cleaning/Sanitizing Areas
- Winter Weather Emergency Procedures
HVAC
Make sure a trained, experienced individual checks and cleans all your HVAC units. During this time, they should inspect for leaks and clean drain lines. Pinpoint any issues with the ignition, heating elements, electrical connections, blower operation, and other mechanical problems.
Once HVAC units have been cleaned and inspected, schedule any necessary repairs. Test and calibrate thermostats and temperature controls throughout the building to ensure consistent temperatures.
Create a schedule to check and change air filters and any other necessary preventative maintenance.
Also, check windows and doors for any heat loss and air leaks. Sealing these fixtures can help the HVAC work more efficiently, save money on energy bills, and provide a better visitor experience.
Plumbing
With cold weather comes the potential for freezing pipes. The water inside pipes expands as it freezes. This can cause the pipes to crack or burst.
Periodically check the facility’s plumbing system for leaks and proper functioning. Insulate exposed pipes in restrooms, kitchens, and exterior walls to prevent the pipes from freezing. Check the operation of shutoffs and valves and be sure appropriate staff know their location and function.
Area-Specific Inspections and Tasks
Recreation facilities have a variety of areas–each with its own set of unique needs. Here are some of the more common areas in a recreation center and how to maintain them during the winter.
Exit/Entryways
Ensure durable walk-off mats are installed at every entry and exit to capture moisture and debris. Periodically check for damage or premature wear of the mats. Set a cleaning schedule or hire a service to clean or replace mats.
Be sure all entries–especially accessible ones–are functioning properly and clear of obstructions. Designate someone to check and clean floors during winter weather to prevent slip hazards. Ensure proper warning signs are clearly visible.
Seal any air leaks you notice coming from doors or windows.
Lobby & Common Areas
Aside from the parking lot, the lobby and common areas are often the first places of contact for visitors at your facility. You want to make sure they are clean and safe at all times.
Like the entryways, promptly clean any moisture and debris dragged in by foot traffic. Find if there is a specific outdoor source (e.g. an unshoveled walkway) causing more snow and water to be tracked into the building.
Be sure the common areas remain at a consistent, comfortable temperature for your visitors and employees. Provide hand sanitizer in common areas to encourage good hand hygiene.
Fitness & Workout Areas
Staff may need to clean and disinfect machines and free weights more often due to increased usage. Sanitizing equipment also helps reduce the risk of spreading viruses and other winter germs.
Inspections and preventative maintenance should also be increased to alert staff to damage or excessive wear. Check the flooring mats to ensure they are clean, secure, and undamaged.
Get more tips on maintenance planning for work areas and gyms.
Athletic Courts
Indoor courts require regular care and cleaning. For heavy-use multi-purpose courts, this could mean a good cleaning every day. Courts used less frequently may need to be cleaned every other day or every couple of days.
When cleaning the court’s flooring, only use a cleaner approved by the court contractor or manufacturer. Sweep entire courts with a large microfiber dust mop. Place doormats at every entryway to collect snow, ice, and other debris.
Be sure the conditions are right to protect the flooring. Maintain a consistent indoor temperature of 55 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels between 35 and 50%.
Locker Rooms & Restrooms
High moisture levels and increased germs can make locker rooms and restrooms a breeding ground for illness. Be sure ventilation systems are functioning correctly to prevent condensation and mold growth.
Increase cleaning and sanitizing fixtures and other high-use features. Also, provide hand sanitizer and frequently check to make sure soap and sanitizer is stocked in each locker room.
Multipurpose, Childcare, or Other Activity Rooms
Like workout areas, you may add to your cleaning and sanitizing schedule based on usage. Ensure toys and other commonly touched items get sanitized at least daily. Consider using air purifiers to help reduce the transmission of cold and flu germs.
Inspect flooring and mats to ensure they remain clean, secure, and undamaged. Look for any other damage that may cause a dangerous situation or injury.
Final Tip: Inspect Your Recreation Facility Like a Visitor
Routine walkthroughs of a recreation facility may not always detect all the issues. Focused inspections can help detect problems in areas like plumbing or mechanical systems. But do those inspections take into account the user’s experience?
Seeing your recreation facility as visitors use it can be an eye-opening experience. It can also alert you to issues your maintenance team may not be addressing. Make it a habit to experience your facility as a user does.
Simulate a user’s behavior. Lay on the bench presses. Sit in the lobby. Lay on the floor of a childcare center the way your youngest users will. Spend time in a multipurpose room to make sure the temperature remains comfortable.
A user perspective can show where something is not up to standard or when often unnoticed details take away from someone’s visit. Enlist the help of non-maintenance staff to do these walkthroughs–you may be surprised at what they can find.
The Takeaway
Recreation facility usage patterns and weather conditions can put a strain on your recreation facilities. With some planning, training, and focused maintenance tasks, your facilities can handle extreme temperatures, extra programming, and an increase in visitors.