Best public/nonprofit indoor family aquatics center: Chatham County Aquatic Center, Savannah, Ga.(safety measures in wsimming pools)

Among the gas-lit, cobblestone streets of Savannah, Ga., there's a peach of an aquatics facility that makes up for its lack of amenities with a dose of Southern hospitality. Aside from offering a wide range of accommodating programs, the staff of the Chatham County Aquatic Center makes sure it greets every member by name.

The only year-round venue of its size in the area, CCAC features two indoor pools: one 50-meter competition pool and a 25-meter recreation and therapy pool. The pools are housed under a domelike roof system constructed from durable, lightweight fabric that is intended to be cost-effective. The roof is inflated by specially designed HVAC units, which create the air pressure necessary to keep it erect.

But it is the administrative staff's marketing efforts that really deserve admiration. The CCAC's aquatics directors, Jennifer White and Chad Ummel, pen a monthly column in a local sports and recreation publication called Coastal Sport and Wellness. The articles cover topics such as the health benefits of water aerobics and first aid for jelly fish stings--subjects coastal residents can appreciate.

That's not all. In 2004, CCAC began a TV campaign consisting of three 15-second commercials, which ran four times weekly for a year on local networks. Each ended with the slogan "Make your life better. Swim." Since the commercials first aired, CCAC has enjoyed 12 months of increased net revenue, as much as 20 percent during peak months. Attendance is also up 13 percent ...