Around 90 people turned up at the Multi-Purpose Room last Thursday to study the latest swimming pool plans.
The number roughly matched the turnout at the Sept. 26 open house on the pool project.
“I thought we had a very good mix of people,” said Town’s Chief Administrative Officer Martin Taylor.
The Town and County were again well represented, with several aspiring councillors attending. Taylor was also present.
On display were the three latest pool designs, each one featuring a six-lane 25-metre pool, zero depth entry pool, a 24-person whirlpool and a current channel similar to a lazy river.
The concepts have been put together by Edmonton-based architects Barr Ryder, who did not attend last week’s open house.
Concept #1’s projected cost is $17,250,000. It has a total area of 2,562 square metres.
Concept #2 is priced at $14,689,000 and has a main floor area of 2,357 square metres. Concept #3 is expected to cost $14,648,000; the main floor area is 2,350 square metres.
Elevation concepts, giving an idea of how the aquatic centre would look from the outside, were also shown.
The site for the proposed pool is a five-acre parcel of land at the corner of 49 Street and 58 Avenue, across from the Petro-Canada gas station. The Town bought the raw land from the Wes Schneider family for $175,000. On Oct. 21, Town residents will have a chance to vote on the pool project through a plebiscite, while Barrhead County Council is expected to hold a plebiscite in the winter.
As at the first open house, people who spoke to the Leader last week in favour of the project in principle.
Mary Nikkel was impressed with all the plans.
“I thought they all looked really good,” she said. “It’s exciting to think that I may be part of the generation that can enjoy a new pool. I think such a facility would be wonderful.”
Once a country girl, Nikkel is now a town resident.
“I used to swim, but haven’t for a long time,” she said. “If the pool is senior friendly, then maybe I will swim again. I also hope that it is accessible to people with disabilities. That would be good.”
Nikkel, who liked Concept #2 the most, is keen for the project to get under way.
“The sooner we dig the hole the better, otherwise the cost will go up,” she said.
Rick Penny, a Town resident, believes a lazy river will be popular with seniors, but cannot see them using a slide.
His wife, Leslie, who has a nursing background, said she used to be a faithful morning swimmer, but now spends that time driving to work in Mayerthorpe. She hopes, however, to return to that routine.
Penny hailed the mental and physical health benefits of activities like swimming and walking. For instance, there is growing evidence that exercise keeps Alzheimer’s disease at bay for a while.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to measure the benefits, she said. “You can’t measure things that don’t happen. If I keep my muscles in good shape and don’t fall over and break a hip, how do you equate that with the fact I walked or swam? It’s hard.
“When somebody complains that something hurts, the first thing I say is go in pool. Go sit in the hot tub.
“People think that lazy river is just for kids. It’s not. That is the best resistance exercise you can find. If you have sore hips, sore knees, the buoyancy takes some of that pressure off, but you are walking against a current. It’s like walking upstream in a river. It’s good for you.”
Penny said while a swimming pool would be expensive for the Town, it would provide an affordable recreation to many people, including those who find hockey too pricey.
“For $2, $3, $4, you can stay in the pool a couple hours, and get lots of exercise and lots of fun,” she said.
Alfred Burrill said he had reservations about Concept #3 because of the small pool being right adjacent to the competition pool.
“My choice would be Concept #1 or #2,” he said. “I think a pool would be very good for the town. Any one of these options would be good.”
Burrill said he and his wife live in town after buying a house last December.
“I swim on average about three times a week, do a mile on Mondays, Wednesdays and Friday mornings,” he said. “Of course, one of the many attractions for us about coming to Barrhead was walking distance to the pool, walking distance to downtown and all the banks and medical clinics, the library, and the friendly people in Barrhead. So we are very happy.
“I am the main user in the family of the pool, but my wife will probably do some of the aquasizes and I see they are all providing proper facilities for that.”
