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New outdoor pool to cost $9M, feature waterslide, have new change rooms

The replacement plan for the Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool was presented during the May 9 regular council meeting.

Moose Jaw’s new outdoor pool will likely cost about $9 million, have 25-metre lanes, feature a waterslide and splash pad, and have separate buildings for change rooms and mechanical equipment.

Furthermore, city hall could see an annual increase in pool revenue of $61,000 while saving $123,000 in expenses, leading to a net annual savings of $184,000.

Those are some highlights in a document dealing with the replacement of the 56-year-old Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool. Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation, reviewed the replacement plan report during city council’s May 9 regular meeting.

Council later voted 5-1 to pursue funding for the new outdoor pool via the federal Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP). 

Coun. Kim Robinson was opposed. Coun. Crystal Froese was absent. 

The Moose Jaw Flying Fins swim club also spoke to council about its need for a pool with 50-metre lanes.

Financial costs

The original five-year capital funding plan to replace the outdoor pool had a budget of $5,060,578, with the municipality responsible for $2,560,578, Blais said. However, after receiving finalized detailed cost estimates, the plan has been updated and the budget has increased to $8,994,434, although the city’s share has declined to $2,465,489.

The current outdoor pool has 50-metre lanes, but the proposed new pool would have 25-metre lanes. If council wanted a venue with 50-metre lanes, there would be two options but with trade-offs, Blais remarked.

The projected capital cost for a 50-metre pool with a waterslide and splash pad is $11,623,666, while the projected capital cost for a 50-metre pool with a larger splash pad and no waterslide is $11,412,778.

“Both options are also projected to cost the city $52,950 more to operate than the 25-metre option,” he said, including $17,550 less revenue and $35,400 in extra expenses.

History

The Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool was built in 1966 as an Olympic-sized venue, while a paddling pool was added in 1980 but closed in 2020 due to safety and maintenance concerns, Blais said.

This pool is the only 50-metre outdoor venue in Saskatchewan and one of the only outdoor pools with seven- and 10-metre diving platforms. 

In 2017 there were almost 20,000 people who used the pool, while that number declined to 14,419 visitors in 2019 and 9,765 last year, the report showed.

“We feel that is due to a lack of accessibility and amenities for all ages. Since then, we’ve brought on spray parks in the community, so that is more attractive to families,” added Blais.

Accessibility and mechanical issues

Anyone with physical limitations cannot easily access the outdoor pool since they must walk upstairs into the Natatorium and then downstairs to the change rooms and pool, he said. The current pool depth, entry points and overall lack of modern features restrict the ability to welcome all residents. 

Most mechanical equipment at the pool and Natatorium is original and approaching 60 years old, noted Blais. Water consumption has doubled over the past 10 years — to 13,000 cubic metres from 6,500 cubic metres — while the pool piping system leaks regularly and cannot be repaired without ripping up the deck.

Community support

In March, the parks and rec department asked residents for feedback about its 10-year master plan, including their top 10 priorities. 

Of those surveyed, an outdoor aquatic centre was the top outdoor amenity desired. Furthermore, of the top 5 outdoor venues that need improvements, 57.8 per cent of respondents said the Phyllis Dewar Outdoor Pool required help. 

“The construction of a modern, fully accessible, and inclusive outdoor aquatic facility will better meet the community’s needs and would serve as a popular attraction to the local area,” Blais said.

Location and pool features

The new outdoor pool will be built on the existing site in Crescent Park. The venue will be separate from the Natatorium since the new mechanical equipment will not fit into the historic building, he continued. This will make it possible to redevelop the Nat and find new opportunities for it.

The new change room/mechanical building will be a standalone feature, with the wall entering the change rooms — which can accommodate 500 patrons — showcasing the history of the pool and Natatorium.

“It’s important to show our history,” said Blais.

A new competitive lap pool will have eight 25-metre lanes and include an accessible ramped entry, deck-level diving board, one-metre diving board, starting blocks, lane ropes and markings, and stainless-steel ladders and rails. 

The new features will include a 232-square-metre leisure pool with a depth of one metre and a waterslide 40 metres in length with a 4.6-metre drop. 

Energy efficiency

The new pool will likely contribute to the municipality’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions because of innovations in the venue, said Blais. For example, the change room and mechanical room will operate four months a year, LED lighting will be used throughout the site, and air conditioning will only be installed in the staff areas.

Program enhancements

The outdoor pool will have longer operating hours to reflect the extended closure of the indoor pool, which will be closed for two months instead of one for longer maintenance, Blais said. The Sportsplex pool was built in 1996, so extra time will be needed to complete upgrades over the next 10 years. 

“As council is aware, our recreation facilities are subsidized, so when the doors are closed, it is an opportunity to save some money,” he remarked. 

Project cost estimates

There has been a 78-per-cent increase in the cost to build the outdoor pool since the initial capital construction costs were first projected in 2019-20, Blais continued. 

Some contributing factors include a 117-per-cent increase in costs for the change room and mechanical building, a 49-per-cent increase for the aquatic amenities and mechanical components, a 12-per-cent increase in site preparation and additional site amenities, an extra $104,940 for project management, and a contingency budget of 10 per cent.

Blais added that the new outdoor pool will likely be open by July 1, 2025. 

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