After back-to-back meetings packed with concerned Vancouverites, the Park Board has voted to explore how it could keep the Vancouver Aquatic Centre’s 50-metre pool.
The decision comes after staff presented the park board with a $103 million dollar redevelopment plan that would have cut the length of the 50-metre pool in half to 25 metres.
The design also included a leisure pool with a beach entry, lazy river, and large hot tub.
“It’s the Vancouver Aquatic Centre not the Vancouver leisure pool,” said commissioner Brennan Bastyovanszky, who voted in favour of Tuesday’s amendment to explore how to keep the original length of the pool.
The proposed plan has received massive pushback as it contradicts the plebiscite vote made during the 2022 municipal election that secured the funding for the replacement, and the renewal or rehabilitation of the VAC.
Council approved $37 million in the 2023- 2026 Capital Plan, for a total $140 million project budget.
The plebiscite requires construction contracts to be awarded and start by the end of 2026. If delayed, it risks losing the $103 million dollars.
More than 70 people attended the two nights of meetings to voice their concerns about the pool potentially shrinking in size, and floated the idea of including a smaller leisure pool instead.
“With a 25-metre pool, there would be a lot less room to swim,” said Elise Hoskinson, who swims competitively at the VAC. “The lanes would be more crowded so it would be really hard to improve.”
“We have to share with public swimmers, share with divers and water polo,” said Grace Poistila, who also swims competitively. “We’ll have so much less practice, so we won’t succeed as much as we would like to.”
“It’s going to have an effect on our opportunities to other clubs who do have those Olympic sized pools,” said Claire Dosen, who also swims at the VAC. “It’s very disappointing as someone who might want to make the national team one day.”
Staff have been directed to report back in one month with a design that would keep the full 50-metre pool.
But staff have said expanding the building would not be possible due to geotechnical concerns, as well as financial concerns.
“I would love to be able to support this, but we just need more money and a bigger footprint,” said Scott Jensen, who voted against the amendment. “To do that we need to be walking arm and arm with our city and provincial officials,” he said.
Architects have voiced concerns about geotechnical and financial constraints of the VAC.
Commissioner Tom Digby voted against the amendments, with concerns about losing funding from the city with any delays.
“We’ve had some expert architects and engineers who came to the table with the best design possible,” said Digby. “I think there will be some very disappointed swimmers in a month.”
The VAC is 50-years-old and has been noticeably aging. Last spring a section of the wall collapsed and temporarily closed the pool.
If staff are not able to find a solution to keep the 50-metre length, park board staff said they would go ahead and vote on the first plan to reduce the size to 25-metres.
