The summer of 2010 has been one of the hottest and most humid on record, and not surprisingly, the Village of Garden City has seen an increase in the number of Garden City Pool memberships purchased this year.

Pool revenues are expected to run more than $30,000 ahead of last year, according to Kevin E. Ocker, chairman of the Board of Commissioners of Cultural and Recreational Affairs. Last year, the pool generated revenue totaling $904,160. This year, revenue is already at $929,202, and Ocker projects it will likely total $935,000 by the end of the season.

Besides memberships, the pool has generated other revenue this season. To date, guest fees have generated $26,758; ice cream sales, $18,672; early bird swim, $1,340; swim lessons, $11,205; and sale of merchandise, $22,184.

Ocker reported at this month’s meeting of the Garden City Board of Trustees that the number of residents in each membership category has stayed close to projections. Ocker said families signed up earlier this year because of the heat.

At a budget work session in March, Ocker said his department planned to heavily market the Garden City Pool, miniature golf course and other facilities this summer. A new Web site, www.gardencityrecreation.org, went live on April 1. The recreation department uses the site to promote all facilities, activities and special events.

Ocker was surprised that family pool memberships had decreased last summer. He expected the numbers to rise as people said they were choosing to stay closer to home during the summer due to the economy. Last year, 1,532 family memberships were purchased. This year, the number is at 1,526.

As a way to increase memberships this year without raising fees, two new membership categories were added. The new categories have already generated $21,000 in revenue.

The first new category, called “School District Family,” is for families who live in the school district, but technically not in the Village. Ocker has said this includes mostly the 100 families living in the Fernwood Terrace section. The membership costs $535. Eleven memberships in this category have been purchased so far this year.

The second new category is for a “Family of Two” and costs $395. This category is for resident adults over the age of 25 who live at the same address but do not qualify for either the couple and family categories, such as a parent and child or two siblings. There have been 43 of these memberships sold this year.

“One of the things the commission continues to do is to try to offer a different category if we feel there’s a need there,” Ocker said. “We tried these two this year and it seems to be working.”

He said the commission will continue to look at the fee schedule. The commission will be especially careful not to “pull away” from the traditional family category. “It’s very sensitive,” he said.

In other pool-related news, Ocker reported that water has been getting in between the concrete and the liner at the children’s wading pool. “It’s going to be a process of elimination,” he said. “We are beginning to isolate the valves to see where the water is coming in to the pool and past the liner.” The pool is being drained every one to two days to remove the water under the liner.

Ocker said that his department will continue to evaluate what might be causing the problem. “It’s a frustrating process because our goal is to remain open while we perform repairs.”

Ocker told The Garden City News on Tuesday that now he believes there is a second leak on the return line to the wading pool. “It is possible that the water we are losing from that leak is finding its way through the concrete and under the liner,” he explained. “We have decided to continue to drain the pool every other day, or every day if need be, to reduce the bubble. We will continue this throughout the remainder of the season. After Labor Day, our plan is to excavate to find and repair the leak. We will also assess the condition of the liner and perform necessary repairs.”

Ocker said the work will likely be performed on a Sunday evening to keep service disruption to a minimum. “Even though we have this bubble effect in one small section of the pool, we are open for the members and the kids are in the pool every day.”

The weather may be driving residents to the pool, but it also may be a reason they have not taken advantage of the nearby miniature golf course at Community Park. The 18-hole course opened in 2008 and offers a shaded picnic area, playground and snack bar.

Revenue from the mini-golf course is expected to only reach half of what was estimated. Ocker said his department has projected revenue of $35,000 for this fiscal year, which will end in May of 2011. He told The Garden City News that he believes revenue was down last year because of the cold and rainy spring and summer.

He estimates that more than 70 percent of the rounds played annually are from Pool members. “What has been disappointing is that other residents are either not aware of the mini golf course, or have no interest in that type of family activity,” he said. “We continue to promote the mini golf course as a great evening activity for a family, as well as a great site for birthday parties and other family gatherings.”

The course is located behind the Garden City Pool, adjacent to the Tennis Center. It is open seven days a week between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. until September 6th. Residents 12 years and older pay $5, and children under 12 and senior citizens are charged $3. Non-residents 12 years and older pay $6, and non-resident children are $4.

The recreation department hosts special family nights and senior day at the mini golf course. For more information or to book a party, call Steve Espey at the Community Park Office at (516) 483-2525.