Due to the urgent need for more pool space in Kingston, the city council has started to deal with the shortage.
Swimmers who use the pools are frustrated because Artillery Park is the only indoor pool owned by the city that is open year-round for leisure swimming, lessons, and other programs.
Brittany O'Neill, who swims at Artillery Park, said that if you don't book early, sometimes there is no room. She added, "We usually come for the free swim. I have tried to register for swim lessons before but I was not fast enough."
To solve this problem, the city council passed a motion this week to enclose the Culligan Water Park next to the Memorial Centre, which will keep it open year-round.
Lanie Hurdle, the city's chief administrative officer, explained the expected benefits. She said, "We'll be able to add regular program space, and we expect this will create about 1,100 swim spaces for people to participate."
The estimated $25 million cost for the enclosure includes building walls around the water park and putting in large windows. Right now, the park is only open for a maximum of three months each year.
The idea of having a pool open all year has made nearby residents very excited. David Torres said, "My wife and I have kids, and they've been asking to go swimming this season. We don't know where to go, so this is going to be amazing."
Paula Reynolds expressed the same feeling, stating, "There's lots of kids around all the time. A lot of new families with kids who probably haven't had the chance to take swimming lessons, so I think it'll be good."
In addition to enclosing the Culligan Water Park, the city council also voted to start a $3 million study to explore the possibility of building a $100 million aquatic center on the front lawn of the Invista Centre Multiplex. However, officials recognize that this project may take years and would need funding from other levels of government.
The city has come up with a plan for the Culligan Water Park renovations and will soon send it out for review. While the pool will stay open this summer, it will be closed for the 2025 season and reopen sometime in 2026.
