Thousands raised in Happyland pool’s defence

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This article was published 13/04/2024 (553 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

St. Boniface residents hope a new wave of financial support can save the Happyland outdoor pool, despite city council’s decision to close it.

A Friends of Happyland Park fundraiser had collected more than $33,000 toward the cause by Friday afternoon. It aims to raise $85,000 in hopes of keeping the pool open for at least one more season and allow time for more long-term fundraising to take place.

“There’s very strong community support for (the pool). There are quite a few people I’ve seen comment online that actually look at Happyland as kind of being a defining part of St. Boniface,” said Christine Trickey, a member of Communities Raising Concerns for Liveability, one of several groups linked to the fundraiser.

The city plans to close Happyland this year and begin public consultations this summer on a possible new aquatics facility in St. Boniface.

Last year, Happyland pool opened on June 30.

However, Trickey said a larger, regional pool with a four-to-six-kilometre catchment area and paid entrance fees wouldn’t be affordable for low-income residents who enjoyed free admission to Happyland.

“(Some) people… use these pools as a way of cooling off because they may not even have access to air conditioning. I think (the city is) missing a certain segment of society that’s kind of being overlooked in the planning,” said Trickey.

She stressed recreation options are scarce in the area and argues the city’s claim the pool suffered from low attendance isn’t accurate because low staffing levels and limited opening hours artificially deflated pool visit numbers.

“These free pools are definitely a needed service,” said Trickey.

Organizers noted donors have also committed to provide another $15,000, which is not included in the current fundraising total, should the city commit to reopening Happyland.

Trickey noted all funds raised are earmarked for the pool but could support other recreation in the community if the city doesn’t reopen it, which is also noted on the fundraiser’s webpage.

The city’s preliminary budget proposed to shutter the Eldon Ross indoor pool, as well as Happyland and Windsor Park outdoor pools. However, an amendment opted to let Windsor Park remain open throughout 2025, prior to the final budget vote. Another amendment will allow Eldon Ross to operate this summer, while the city tries to sell it with a requirement that the new owner maintain some public access.

Supporters of the closures note the aging pools would each require millions of dollars in capital spending to maintain over the next decade, including $3.6 million for Happyland alone. It cost the city an average of about $83,000 annually to operate Happyland in recent, non-pandemic years.

Council’s finance chairman said he still expects a new aquatic amenity is the best option.

“The harsh reality is it’s going to be many millions to restore the pool for any type of longer term. I still think the plan … to build a new aquatic amenity in (the) St. Boniface ward, a more substantial one … is the right approach,” said Coun. Jeff Browaty.

The North Kildonan councillor said it would be possible for council to consider an offer to cover all of the pool’s costs but he expects that wouldn’t be likely.

“Nothing’s off the table entirely but I’d rather see the money go towards a proper regional facility, rather than just fixing the style of pool that’s there,” he said.

Coun. Evan Duncan, chairman of community services, expressed doubt Happyland could open by this summer but noted he’s open to hearing calls to save it, should a community organization come up with a viable plan to take over its operation.

“It’s a tight timeline but … If the monies for the infrastructure, the capital, are there, then, of course, (I’m) open to the conversation,” said Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood).

St. Boniface Coun. Matt Allard, who tried to save the two St. B. pools during the budget process, said he would help support any feasible third-party effort to save Happyland.

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“If someone comes forward with a substantive offer and can demonstrate that they would have the capacity to take over the care and ownership of the pool, I would certainly take that to council … My preference was to keep the pools open,” said Allard.

“If that’s not something that’s going to happen, then I’m going to be aggressively pursuing a new pool/aquatic centre in St. Boniface and for that I need council support,” he added.

While the city plans to close Happyland this year, a spokesman said a date to demolish it has not yet been determined.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter

Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.

Every piece of reporting Joyanne produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.