Vancouver water lovers could soon have a few new outdoor locations to choose from.
At Monday’s meeting, the Vancouver Park Board received staff recommendations that would see some changes at existing pools, as well as the addition of new amenities.
The recommendations include:
- a new outdoor leisure pool at Killarney Community Centre
- a new outdoor component, possibly a spray park and hot tub, at Britannia Community Centre
- a new destination natural outdoor pool along the Fraser River
- a harbour deck in a prominent location.
In determining locations for new outdoor amenities, priority was given to service area gaps identified in the south-central and south-east areas of the city.
Margery Duda, with the Vancouver Society for Promotion of Outdoor Pools, said the recommendations are lacking an outdoor pool dedicated to swimming.
“In the draft recommendation there is no plan for an outdoor swimming pool,” she said, adding the leisure pool at Killarney Community Centre would be more like a wading pool.
Duda said the city has lost four outdoor swimming pools and there are no plans to add any. She said the recommendations focus more on adding destination pools.
“It’s not really an opportunity for more people to swim,” she said.
The report, which also included many recommendations for indoor pools, is the culmination of the first phase of the VanSplash Aquatics Strategy.
Park board commissioner Sarah Kirby-Yung said the board will kick off another round of public consultation in September, giving residents a chance to have their say on the recommendations. The public consultation will include an online survey, as well as public open houses.
Residents can get more information and sign up to get VanSplash updates at vancouver.ca.
Staff will take that feedback and use it in crafting a 10-year plan for the city’s aquatics facilities, which should come back to the board before the end of the year, Kirby-Yung said.
In May 2016, the board passed a motion directing staff to explore quick-start strategies, including the allocation of existing capital funding, to expedite the construction of new outdoor pools.
For 2017, $200,000 has been allocated for the planning and design of an outdoor pool.
The VanSplash report also recommends continuing to invest in existing outdoor pools, as well as a review and upgrades to changing rooms and concession stands/food services.
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