'Let's stop stalling': Vancouver neighbourhood to get long-awaited outdoor pool
An outdoor pool promised for more than a decade is one step closer to becoming a reality.
The issue was heavily discussed during Monday night’s Vancouver Park Board meeting as commissioners considered the upcoming capital budget.
Originally, the Mount Pleasant outdoor pool was not part of the proposed 2023-26 capital plan, but that changed by the end of the four-hour-long meeting.
The previous outdoor pool was shut down in 2009 after operating for 44 years. Residents were promised a new pool, but years later, it still hasn't been built.
Between 2010 to 2021, the board passed several resolutions to build a new pool but the project never went ahead.
“We’ve been fighting for this to be replaced for years. It’s been a long struggle,” said speaker Helen Fielding, a former lifeguard and swimming instructor who wants a neighbourhood pool for her grandchildren.
According to staff reports, a new pool would cost between $15 million and 20 million.
“It’s relatively a small amount…it’s 0.57 per cent of the total city capital plan, 3.5 per cent of the total park board capital budget, ” said Anita Romaniuk, a former park board commissioner who was speaking on behalf of with the Mount Pleasant Community Centre Association.
The pool was clearly a contentious issue as several speakers voiced their strong opposition, citing concerns that green space would be taken away, beliefs the money could be used to fund other projects and concerns about traffic congestion.
“It’s heartbreaking to imagine this beautiful park have this concrete whatever design, that’s not going to be used for most of the year, be a giant eyesore,” said Patrick Crossmen, a resident in the neighbourhood.
During public engagement, 35 people were opposed while 29 people supported it.
After hearing from the speakers, the Commissioner John Irwin added an amendment to explore reallocating $11.5 million of the funds in the capital plan to facilitate the planning, design and building of the Mount Pleasant pool. It passed 5:2.
“It’s time for us to stop saying, ‘Just be patient.’ Let’s stop stalling, let’s finally do it,” said Commissioner Tricia Barker.
On the topic of pools, Commissioner Dave Demers also added an amendment to request council for additional funding to complete the outdoor pool for Marpole Community Centre. That amendment passed unanimously.
Another issue brought up is that funding was diminished from the sports field strategy, which saw about $11 million allocated in the past capital budget and dropped to $3.8 million in the upcoming budget.
After hearing from coaches, volunteers and young soccer players, the board voted unanimously to request city council find $7.7 million in funding to build, upgrade and expand outdoor sports field facilities.
In the four-year capital plan, $208 million will go towards funding parks and open spaces, $329 million is dedicated to recreation facilities and $2 million is earmarked for service yards, for a total of $539 million.
The plan now goes to council for approval.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
U.S. schools turn to artificial intelligence to spot guns as companies press lawmakers for state funds
Kansas could soon offer up to US$5 million in grants for schools to outfit surveillance cameras with artificial intelligence systems that can spot people carrying guns. But the governor needs to approve the expenditures and the schools must meet some very specific criteria.
Air quality advisories issued in 5 provinces, 1 territory
Air quality advisories are in effect across Western Canada as smoky conditions plague some areas, according to the latest forecasts. Here's where.
Just how bad are ultraprocessed foods? Here are 5 things to know
Many foods fall under the category of ultraprocessed foods, depending on their exact ingredients. This type of food has been studied a lot lately, and the results aren’t great.
No refund for travellers who cancelled flight already scrapped by airline: regulator
Four years on, the controversy over whether airlines owed refunds to passengers after cancelling hundreds of thousands of flights during the pandemic continues to simmer, aggravated by a sluggish, opaque complaints process.
opinion Harry and Meghan's Nigerian adventure: traditional attire to warm welcomes
For her latest column on CTVNews.ca, royal commentator Afua Hagan writes about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's recent visit to Nigeria, calling it a 'deeply meaningful campaign' that was about aligning their ongoing efforts to foster mental-health awareness and promoting the Invictus Games.
'Oh my God, you're my brother': Man in his 70s discovers 6 unknown siblings
After receiving a DNA kit one Christmas from his son-in-law, Hugh McCormick soon discovered that he had six unknown siblings, with whom he shared the same birth parents.
Rates of cancer declining in Canada, but more work needed to save lives: projections
A new study projecting declining rates of cancer cases and deaths in Canada demonstrates the success of prevention and early detection programs, but also highlights areas where more work is needed to save and prolong lives, researchers say.
DEVELOPING Cohen expected to take the stand as testimony in Trump hush money case enters 4th week
The star prosecution witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial is set to take the stand Monday with testimony that could help shape the outcome of the first criminal case against an American president.
Man fatally 'slashed in the neck' in downtown Toronto, suspect outstanding
Police are searching for a male suspect after a man was “slashed in neck” on Sunday morning in downtown Toronto and died.