We are making an important change to the way we manage access to the lap and therapy pools. After careful thought and consideration, we have made the decision to remove the reservation system for both pools, effective March 1, 2025.

Why Are We Making This Change?

We understand that for many of our members, the reservation system has become a familiar and comfortable part of your pool experience. We appreciate your cooperation in using the system over the past several months, especially as we navigated the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, after listening to feedback from our membership and evaluating the system’s impact on the overall experience, we’ve learned that the reservation system has become increasingly frustrating for many. We have heard concerns about the difficulty of understanding the schedule, the challenges of booking times, and the conflicts that have arisen between members trying to secure pool access and the members who wanted to use the pool but not able to get a reservation.

Our primary goal at HFAC is to ensure that we are serving the wellness journey of all our members, and we believe that eliminating the reservation system will allow us to better fulfill this mission. Removing reservations will simplify access to the pools, reduce confusion, and create a more enjoyable experience for everyone.

What This Means for You:

• Open Access: Beginning March 1, 2025, you will no longer need to reserve a lane in advance to use the lap or therapy pool. Both pools will be available on a first-come, first-served basis during operating hours, and you may need to share the space.
• Increased Availability: We know that many of you rely on the pools as a key part of your health, fitness and wellness routine. We are confident that the removal of the reservation system will allow for greater flexibility and access for all members.
• Updated Schedule: We are working to ensure that our pool schedules are clear and easy to follow so that you can plan your visits without the confusion of a booking system.

We Understand This May Be Disappointing for Some

We realize that some of you may feel upset or frustrated by this change. The reservation system may have given a sense of security, knowing that you had a guaranteed spot in the pool. We want to acknowledge that this change might feel like a loss, especially for those of you who have grown accustomed to the structure it provided.

Please know that we are committed to ensuring that all members have a positive experience at HFAC. We are confident that this decision will lead to a more seamless and inclusive experience for the majority of our membership. However, we also understand that change can be challenging, and we are here to listen to your concerns.

Looking Ahead

While we know this change may take some time to adjust to, we truly believe that removing the reservation system will benefit the larger membership. Our ultimate goal is to create a more accessible and enjoyable environment for all of our members. We deeply appreciate your understanding and continued support as we move forward with this update.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss this change further, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We are here to listen and ensure that your experience at HFAC remains as positive as possible.

Thank you for being a valued member of the Hawthorn Farm Athletic Club community.