Vernon's Lakeview Wading Pool, or Peanut pool as it's known, is shown in this image from Google Street View.
Image Credit: GOOGLE STREET VIEW
January 18, 2019 - 11:32 AM
VERNON - Recreation Services is looking for a major funding boost to revitalize a Vernon summer landmark.
Gary Lefebvre, manager of aquatics in Vernon, submitted a letter to council asking for its approval to apply for grant funding for a renovation of the popular outdoor Lakeview Wading Pool also known as the Peanut Pool due to its shape.
Recreation Services is looking to apply for the Canada-British Columbia Investing in Canada Infrastructure program to cover up to 73.33 per cent of the total cost of the project. This share would work out to be $1,472,100. Recreation Services will also be asking council to approve the remaining 26.67 per cent ($535,400) to be funded from the Recreation Services Major Maintenance Reserve Fund and the Infrastructure Levy.
The project is designed to revitalize the pool, which is over 60 years old, Lefebvre says in the letter. The pool, which is open free of charge, receives an estimated 6,000 visitors every season.
He noted the pool needs several upgrades to remain inviting and accessible to the public. These changes include the replacement of the fibreglass and concrete pool basin, the installation of a new spray park, the relocation of a new washroom, hand rails, wide pathways, zero depth entry, and a heating system to make the pool more comfortable for visitors on cooler days. The majority of these changes would be achieved by completely replacing the existing pool with a similarly sized basin.
Lefebvre highlighted the importance of sustainability for the pool. Solar heating, high-efficiency gas heaters, and regenerative media filtration systems were noted as possible avenues to make the new pool more sustainable.
If the grant application is ultimately accepted, the letter stated the project might be able to start in fall 2020 with a possible opening date of late June 2021.
Council will consider the proposal at their regular meeting on Monday, Jan. 21.
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News from © iNFOnews, 2019