Residents, councilors angry over pool closure in proposed city budget – Winnipeg Free Press

Plans to close city swimming pools are sending shock waves among residents who fear it will destroy a much-loved amenity.

The preliminary city budget for 2024-2027 calls for closing the outdoor Happyland, Windsor Park and Eldon Ross indoor pools this year, as well as decommissioning or replacing 20 pools, maintaining and staffing them. The city says the $20 million program will provide 10 new spray pads (along with the five previously announced) over the next six years and provide alternative recreation areas.

News of plans to close Windsor Park's outdoor pool brought Amber Gauthier's 10-year-old daughter to tears Wednesday.

“She was crying. He said: “Sprinklers are for little kids, I'm 10. “It's not fun for me,” Gauthier said.

“The splash pads are amazing, but… the kids are getting older. It's not fun. “Adults don't want a splash pad, teenagers don't want a splash pad, but a pool serves everyone.”

While he agrees the area needs a splash pad included in the plan, he believes it shouldn't come at the expense of the pool.

Her husband and daughter went to the pool almost every evening in the summer, sometimes standing in line. Gauthier, who serves as president of the Windsor Park Residents Association, said he changed the agenda for Thursday night's meeting to focus on ways the community can stop the closure.

“I've been fielding calls and messages all morning from members of the community who are very happy about this,” he said.

Gauthier said the loss of the popular pool leaves many teenagers in the area with few ways to escape the summer heat.

“Windsor Park is not an affluent area where everyone has air conditioning and all the luxuries. I think taking that away is taking away healthy habits, taking away family time,” he said, noting that free access to the pool is available.

The principal, whose school playground is next to the Eldon Ross Pool, said closing the facility on Pacific Avenue would also take away an integral part of community life.

“It's safe and family-friendly, and there are very few after-school or recreational opportunities in the area. There are no community clubs,” said Samantha Amaral, principal of Brooklands School.

Amaral said the pool is within walking distance for many children and families, and the school relies on its 3rd grade swimming program.

“It's a much-loved and much-needed recreation area here…And we have a lot of newbies, so the opportunity to have access to a pool where they can learn to swim is great,” he said.

Number. Evan Duncan, head of the council's public services committee, said the pools slated for closure were built decades ago and were now suffering from declining attendance and high maintenance costs.

“Do we continue to invest in aging infrastructure, or do we look at how we can use taxpayer dollars to bring new infrastructure online?” said Duncan (Charleswood-Smokedoo-Westwood).

The budget also calls for a four-year review to assess the use and costs of the Kinsmen Sherbrook Pool. But Duncan noted that while its annual operating costs are projected to reach $1 million in 2027, no decision has been made to close it.

The budget proposes 10 new spray pads in Winnaqua (near the existing Windsor Park pool), Tyndall Park, South Winnipeg, Chalmers, Bruce Park, Beryl Watts, Norberry/Glenley, Keenleyside Park, Tuxedo and Riverview.

Number. Council finance chairman Geoff Broughati said the cost of operating and maintaining anti-aging pools was a major concern, while splash pads were cheaper. For example, the Windsor Park pool, built in 1961, cost $121,000 to operate in 2022 and, based on early estimates, will cost about $4 million to renovate, he said.

“The real cost is that these pools are in very poor condition. … The Windsor Park pool, the facility as a whole, is considered to be in poor condition,” Broughati said.

A North Kildonan councilor said it was difficult to fit this financial reality into the town's budget, particularly for outdoor pools with a limited season.

“With a limited number of vacation dollars, I'm trying to justify it as the best investment for the community,” he said.

However, this change is causing some political opposition.

Numbers. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) and Vivian Santos (Point Douglas), whose wards have three pools slated for closure, said they were surprised by the proposal and hoped to find funding to keep them open.

“These are free pools and they're in working-class neighborhoods. … Those are the types of activities we want kids to participate in,” said Allard, whose department includes the Happyland and Windsor Park pools. “It's heartbreaking to think these pools are going to close.”

He believes the roughly $1 million planned for the new Winakwa splash pad could be used to maintain the Windsor Park pool, while funding for the splash pad could be found elsewhere.

Santos said he is concerned that there are no other pools in his ward within walking distance of Eldon Ross.

“Not everyone in this community has a car, they don't have the luxury … so (many people) in this community rely on walking, biking or taking the bus. “Everything should be within walking distance,” he said.

The council will hold a final vote on the budget on March 20.

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Joyanna Pursaga
Reporter

Born and raised in Winnipeg, Joyanna loves to tell the stories of this city, especially when politics are involved. Joyanna became a city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press in early 2020.

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