Eldon Ross Pool to be open year-round

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This article was published 28/04/2010 (5837 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brooklands and Weston area residents were celebrating last week after learning that the city will operate Eldon Ross Pool year-round beginning this October.

City representatives made the announ­cement April 21 at the Brook­lands Senior Centre.

The announcement follows more than five years of lobbying by area residents to have the city operate the pool year-round instead of closing it during the fall and winter months.

Residents were gathered to discuss what to do after collecting more than 1,000 signatures on a petition in support of year-round pool hours when Coun. Scott Fielding (St. James-Brooklands) and Paul Huntington, the city’s aquatics administrative co-ordinator, said their pleas had been heard.

“We’ve listened,” said Fielding to two dozen individuals gathered in the room.

While the pool’s summer schedule will remain the same, fall and spring hours will be abbreviated to allow the facility to remain open three days a week from September through to the following May.

Community activist Fred Morris said the announcement was proof of what residents had been saying all along.
“It never made sense to close an indoor pool for the winter,” he said.

Fielding told people at the meeting that the pool’s hours of operation could be extended in the future if it receives enough visitors.
Huntington noted that attendance at the pool dropped by 50% during the last three years.

“Attendance is what really needs to happen for the longevity of the facility,” Fielding said.

It was proposed at last week’s meeting with residents that a stakeholders group be set up and that it be tasked with increasing useage of the facility.

“Keeping this open is not just in the city’s hands, but the community’s as well,” Fielding added.

Huntington said that there was no funding to increase the pool’s hours of operation so city staff decided to reduce fall and spring hours to allow the pool to remain open during the winter.

“After September it will run three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays,” Huntington said.

Residents who attended last week’s meeting said they were pleased with the city’s decision.

“If people don’t come out that will not be good. We’ve got to use it or lose it,” said Brooklands resident Maxine Warenko after the meeting.

Brooklands Seniors Centre president Alice Steinke said her group is urging its members to use the pool by offering aquacise classes.

“We’re helping get the word out and drive up the usage numbers,” she said. Brooklands Senior Centre is located a few blocks away from the indoor pool.

Morris said it’s time for residents to take action.

“Residents have to use the pool and help out on the steering/stakeholder committee,” he said.

Huntington said that there would be no increase to user fees. He also noted the pool’s new hours through the winter would provide increased access to city swimming lessons.

“Right now we are sitting at about 93% capacity for swimming lessons in the city. This opens up more spots,” he said.

rob.brown@canstarnews.com