A conceptual design drawing of the 50-metre pool with two movable bulkheads.
Image Credit: City of Vernon
October 06, 2022 - 7:00 PM
One of the burning questions Vernon residents will have to decide this election day, is whether to throw their support behind borrowing the money to build the city's new $121-million Active Living Centre.
So what do you get for $121-million?
A new 50-metre pool that can be divided into three, allowing multiple activities to take place at the same time. The City has said the 50-metre pool will accommodate family-friendly features such as interactive sprays, bubblers, a rock-climbing wall, a water walking mat, a rope swing, and a Ninjacross course, which is a giant obstacle course which lowers from the ceiling, and a giant inflatable. A "sonic wave ball" could also be added which turns the regular pool into a wave pool.
The new facility will also have a leisure pool just under twice the size of the current leisure pool, it will also include a small lazy river and water slides, which will be determined if the project is approved. The leisure pool will also accommodate three 25-metre lanes for swimming laps in its warmer water.
There will be two hot hubs, a sauna, and a steam room.
On the dry side, they'll be a 150-metre walking and running track, a double gymnasium, and an 80-station fitness centre and multi-purpose rooms.
What will it cost you?
The tax increase will be gradual for the first four years but come 2027 it will be an extra $292 added to the yearly tax bill of someone who owns a property assessed at $611,523.
In 2027 the yearly tax bill for an average home will increase to $2,019 from $1,727 in 2022. That increase will remain until the loan is paid off in 30 years' time.
The current facility is on its last legs and getting more expensive to patch up and maintain each year.
Will you vote in favour of borrowing $121 million to build the Active Living Centre? Vote in the poll below, (Vernon residents only please) and remember it's only Vernon residents that get to vote on the project, not Coldstream or the surrounding districts that decided not to take part in the project.
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