Move over, beach and lake vacations. Recreational swim ponds are taking center stage as America’s top summer getaway spot. With crystal clear waters and picturesque surroundings, a swim pond provides the perfect escape for anyone looking to cool off this summer.
We here at Amen Corner Ponds love giving people the opportunity to have something like this for their homes.
Want to know more? Keep reading!
*You can also check out our guide to backyard water features to find out just about anything you need to know on water features
What Is A Recreational Swim Pond?
A recreational swim pond is a new, popular type of natural pond that can serve various purposes, such as swimming, paddling, and floating. Unlike conventional ponds, a backyard recreational pond is designed to look and act more like a naturalistic water body with a unique shape, waterfalls, plants, and more.
Imagine swimming in a natural swimming pool with a natural feel to the surroundings, the sound of a beautiful waterfall, but without harsh chlorine and other chemicals on your skin. That is what a natural swimming pond offers to those who enjoy them.
Why Are Recreation Ponds Popular?
More and more people in Augusta, Georgia, and Columbia, South Carolina (and surrounding areas) are choosing to install a swim pond in their backyard. But why?
It’s a way for you to have a swimming pool without all the maintenance that comes with traditional pools. You can use them for other activities like fishing and aquatic gardening, which makes them more versatile than conventional swimming pools. They add value to your home by increasing your curb appeal and making your backyard more enjoyable.
Recreational ponds are also chemical-free, which is ideal for our more environmentally-conscious clients.
Pros Of Swimming Ponds
Great Return On Investment
You’ll be increasing the curb appeal and overall attraction of your home. Plus, their low maintenance makes them attractive to homeowners and homebuyers.
Even if you aren’t planning on selling your home, you and your family will be able to enjoy your swim pond for hours. This includes during the winter too.
A swimming pool that’s all natural and beautiful? What’s not to love!?
Lower And Cheaper Maintenance
You could choose to have a pool, which requires 1 hour every week of maintenance. Or, you can choose a recreation pond, which needs as little as 5 minutes of maintenance per week.
The yearly maintenance of a swim pond is much less than pools. Swimming pools need to be closed if not being used during the winter and reopened in the spring.
The cost of operation is another part to look at when considering your backyard swimming decision. A pool can cost roughly $650 per year in pool chemicals. On average, a swim pond costs $125 per year for water treatment.
Fewer Mosquitoes And Other Pesky Insects
One of the main benefits of a recreational swim pond is that it can help reduce the population of mosquitoes and other pesky insects in your yard.
Mosquitoes and other insects are attracted to standing water. By having a pond with moving water, you’re essentially taking away one of their breeding grounds. Also, most fish will eat mosquito and insect larvae, so having fish in your pond will further reduce the mosquito population.
Better For Your Family’s Health Than A Swimming Pool
There is no need for harmful chemicals because the ecosystem only requires beneficial bacteria and plants. An ecosystem pond’s water is filtered just like a natural stream or pond that has a balanced ecosystem. So the water quality is impeccable with very little maintenance.
Studies have shown that being in nature can have a positive impact on your mental health, so swimming in a recreation swim pond may help you relax and reduce stress. Recreation swim ponds are designed to look and feel like natural bodies of water, which means they typically include features like plants, rocks, and gravel.
Useful All Year
If you live in an area that’s cold enough for your pond to freeze, you can even try using it for ice skating or ice fishing.
A Natural Swimming Pond Is Environmentally-Friendly
One of the main ways that recreation swim ponds are environmentally-friendly is that they help to conserve water. Traditional swimming pools can use upwards of 50,000 gallons of water per year, which is a significant amount of water waste. A recreation swim pond, on the other hand, uses much less water because it relies on natural filtration systems.
Another way that recreation swim ponds are environmentally-friendly is that they use natural filtration systems that do not require chemicals. They use wetland filters (also called pond bogs), plants, and other natural elements to filter the water and keep it clean. This means that there are no harmful chemicals being used in the filtration process. Traditional swimming pools rely on chlorine and other harsh chemicals to keep the water clean. These chemicals can be harmful to both people and the environment.
Another benefit of a recreation swim pond is that it attracts wildlife. Traditional swimming pools do not typically attract many animals because of the chemicals that are used in them. Recreation swim ponds, on the other hand, attract birds, amphibians, and other animals because they provide a natural habitat for them. This can help to increase the biodiversity in your backyard.
Educational
One of the most important things that children can learn is water safety. And what better place to teach them about water safety than in a recreation swim pond? By having children swim in a pond that is designed for recreation, they will be able to learn about the importance of always swimming with a buddy, never swimming alone, and being aware of potential dangers in and around the water.
In addition, children who learn about water safety in a recreation swim pond will also be more likely to practice what they’ve learned when they are swimming in other bodies of water. That’s because learning about water safety in a recreational setting will make it more fun and enjoyable for children. This will make them more likely to remember what they’ve learned and apply it in other situations.
Cons Of Natural Swimming Ponds
Recreation Ponds Are Large
A swim pond takes up a lot of space. If you have a small yard, a large pond is going to eat up a significant portion of your outdoor living space.
Another con of large recreation swim ponds is that, just like with a normal swimming pool, they can be dangerous for small children and pets. Fences and gates can help, but you’ll also need to be vigilant about supervising your kids and pets when they’re outside.
Traditional Swimming Pool vs. Recreational Swimming Pond Cost
Now let’s talk about the swimming pool vs. a natural swimming pond cost. If you want a swim pond that is roughly the same size as a pool, you will pay 1/3 more for a backyard recreation pond.
For example, your luxury pool will cost about $60,000, while your swim pond will be around $80,000.
Now a liner or gunite pool needs to be relined or resurfaced about every 6 years. But a swim pond will last 30 years on the low end before anything needs to be done with it.
Needs Professional Installation
A recreational swim pond is significantly larger than a traditional pool, which means that there’s a lot more room for error when you’re installing it. If you make just one mistake, it could result in a leak that could cause extensive damage to your property.
Installing a pond also requires a lot of excavating, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Not to mention, if you don’t do it properly, you could end up damaging underground utility lines or harming the roots of nearby trees.
When you’re installing a swim pond, you’ll need to use special liner material and concrete sealant in order to prevent leaks. These materials can be expensive, and they need to be installed correctly in order for them to work properly.
If you want to add features like lighting or a water pump to your swim pond, you’ll need to do some electrical work as well. This is something that should only be attempted by someone with experience, as it can be very dangerous if done incorrectly. The pump and filtration system must also be properly installed to ensure water clarity and quality.
Tips On How To Maintain A Recreational Pond
The first thing you need to do is establish a regular maintenance routine for your swim pond. This should include daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.
- Daily tasks might include skimming leaves off the surface of the water and removing any debris that has blown into the pond
- Weekly tasks might include testing the water quality and cleaning the filter
- Monthly tasks might include checking the aquatic plants and adjusting the aeration system
Another important part of maintaining your pond is testing the pH level regularly and keeping an eye out for algae growth. You should also have a plan in place for dealing with runoff from fertilizers or pesticides. These can pollute the water and cause problems for plants and animals.
Plants play an essential role in keeping your swim pond healthy, so it’s important to choose the right ones. Some plants, like cattails, help keep the water clean by absorbing nutrients from runoff. Others, like lilies, provide shelter for fish and other wildlife. Still others, like lotus flowers, add beauty to the pond while helping to keep the water oxygenated.
Fish also help keep your water cleaner and clearer. The type of fish you choose will depend on the size of your pond and the climate in which you live. In general, though, goldfish and koi are popular choices for recreational ponds. You’ll also need to figure out the right number of fish you can stock; too many fish can lead to unhealthy conditions in your pond.
Enjoy The Best Of Ponds And Pools With An Amen Corner Ponds Recreational Swim Pond
Conclusion paragraph: If you’re looking for a fun and refreshing swimming experience, look no further than Amen Corner Ponds recreational pond. Our ponds are the perfect place to relax and enjoy (or escape) the summer heat.
Fill out our contact form today to learn more about our swim ponds and how we can help make your next outdoor gathering a success!
