The Town of Wynyard recently announced their intention to build a new aquatic facility in the community.
Last year, a major leak in the paddling pool forced the closure of the facility during the summer. After consulting with technicians, the town was told it would cost a minimum of $50,000 and that no crew would be available to work on the repairs until 2026. Following the repairs, a new liner would cost approximately $ 40,000.
Along with the issues facing the paddling pool, the Wynyard Swimming Pool is facing its own repairs. A liner was installed in 2013 at a cost of $65,000 and with the liner nearing its end, a replacement would cost double the amount of the previous liner. Technicians also assessed that the pool would need major repairs to the pool.
Dana Stefanson from the Town of Wynyard said, “that facility (pool) was built in 1983 so you can anticipate that there are repairs and upgrades needed for that. With the paddling pool with a minimum cost of $50,000 but potentially costing $100,000, council reached the decision rather than continuing to put money into an aging facility that is reaching end of life, that we would we save that money and put it into a new facility that would better serve the needs of the community.”
With the news that the paddling pool would be permanently close the paddling pool as they pursue a new facility, the Town of Wynyard asked for feedback from residents in a survey about what they want to see in the new facility, Stefanson says there has been an overwhelming response from the community, noting that residents are in favour of a new facility in Wynyard.
She noted that some questions posed in the survey include the design of the facility as well the approach of how to fund a new aquatic facility, whether it’s through fundraising or taxation.
Stefanson hopes a new aquatic facility can be in place within the next 3-5 years, noting the town hopes the current pool can last another five years to allow for a seamless transition from the current facility into a new one.
In about a month’s time, Stefanson says the town will be seeking proposals to further assess the cost and possible design and to help further gauge the community’s appetite for a new aquatic facility.
According to Stefanson, the pool in Wynyard is a popular spot in the summer.
“It’s a place where so many kids gained the critical skill of learning how to swim and it's a facility that’s accessible across cultures and socioeconomic background to the community, so we just felt that it was important enough to invest in the future of it for the community.”