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Council to consider Dease Pool closure

Dease Pool, which opened in 1912 as the city's first outdoor pool, had about 200 weekly users during the eight-week summer season.
Dease Pool 2011
Swimmers enjoy the summer weather in 2011 at Dease Pool. (Leith Dunick, tbnewswatch.com/FILE)

THUNDER BAY – A century-old outdoor pool could be on the chopping block.

Thunder Bay city council on Monday night is expected to vote on whether to close Dease Pool next year, while a decision is made about the long-term future of the site.

“This 106-year-old facility is showing significant deterioration and does not meet current building codes and Ontario Health regulations,” the report reads. “The change rooms are antiquated with no showers or hot running water and the facility is not accessible.”

Dease Pool, opened in 1912, was the city's first outdoor pool and was said to have been built at the time to keep children from swimming in the Kaministiqua River after there had been multiple drownings.

A structural inspection conducted in July 2017 recommended repairing the pool structure, removing and replacing the existing fibreglass pool liner, replacing the concrete pool deck, repairing or replacing the north end retaining wall, replacing the west side wood framed platform and revising the fence post foundation around the perimeter of the deck.

The total cost of redeveloping the site as a new outdoor pool is pegged at $2.8 million, after including new change room facilities. The cost to repair the existing pool basin is estimated at a little more than $1 million, while the price tag for a replacement pool is $1.2 million.

The resale value of the site was projected to be between $160,000 and $180,000, with the cost of removing the pool and existing change rooms is expected to be $360,000.

Decommissioning or replacement are the only two options consistent with the city’s facility asset management strategy, administration said.

“Administration will finalize the decommissioning plans and evaluate the best repurposed use of the property. Any costs associated with the decommissioning will be brought forward in future capital budgets,” the report reads.

The current annual operating budget for the pool is $82,400. City administration is recommending $52,000 be reallocated for other recreational programming at Dease Park and Minnesota Park, with the remaining amount reflected as savings in next year’s budget.

The additional recreational initiatives could include a summer playground and youth program, after school program, recreational lacrosse, soccer, ultimate Frisbee, learn to skate and hockey programs.

According to the city’s recreation and facilities master plan, Dease Pool was found to have had 200 weekly users over the course of an eight-week summer season. Most of those users live in the immediate area and are repeat visitors.

“This facility serves a relatively small proportion of the population who can be served at Widnall Pool, which is located within 10 walking minutes of Dease Pool,” the report reads.

As well, the city has struggled to staff enough experienced lifeguards and swim instructors, which has resulted in limiting the number of swimmers in a pool at any particular time and fewer private swim lessons.

“Staffing one less facility will help alleviate our seasonal lifeguard shortage,” the report reads.

Administration is also recommending that neighbourhood residents be engaged in consultation to give input on programming options.



About the Author: Matt Vis

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