Moment with the Mayor: Highlights from the Pool Open House

Hi Neighbours:

The first round of community consultation for the new pool began last week, hosted by Group 2. I was pleasantly surprised to see 20 people participating in the afternoon session, and even more surprised by the 25 people who turned out for the evening session. Thank you to all for being involved. Here are some highlights from those discussions.

·         Group 2 helped us understand different programming options, equipment needs, and how programming can change for the better. As an example, the 'lazy river' was originally designed to be a fun activity for swimmers simply to float around, and now it is also used for swimming lessons, physio-therapy, and seniors programming.

·         A pool facility can be understood in three categories: programming, ‘watertainment,’ and social integration.

·         An intergenerational facility can provide programs that enhance fitness, health and wellness, social, life skills, and quality of life. Each use is best done with a different temperature. For example, lane and competitive swimming requires cooler water whereas leisure requires warmer water.

·         Pool activities can include swimming lessons, lifeguard training, fitness classes and lane swims, competitive and leisure diving, swim clubs and competitive swimming, and aqua therapy for people recovering from injuries to helping those with arthritis and more.

·         82% of those attending last week’s sessions favoured an indoor pool and swimming lessons for all ages including all of the activities listed previously. A “water slide is a must.”

·         There are also a number of amenities available such as: water sprays, in-pool play structures, water slides, drop slides, 1m and 3m diving boards, diving towers, rope swings, and climbing walls.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultations. The next steps are to hold another consultation at the end of June to confirm the direction, to provide a report to Council in July, and a final design report in August.

Please write or phone if you would like me to discuss a particular topic. If you have any questions or comments, drop me a line at the town office or email me at mayorenns-wind@kindersley.ca. You can also check out my blog at http://mayorjohn.blogspot.ca/. I appreciate your feedback.