Dear Editor: I have been a patron of Canada Games Pool since August 1979 (minimum three times per week), and I have attended some of the community engagements, as well as responded to the online questionnaire.
The pool currently has eight lanes and I am baffled that we would go through the expense and time to discover the end result will be exactly what we currently have. For those who might not use Canada Games Pool, here is the current situation.
The Hyacks club takes up four lanes, the far-right lane is available for walking, slow swimmers and for rehab. This leave three lanes for length swimming. Three lanes for length swimming turns into a watery frenzy from about 3 p.m. on, with swimmers bumping into each other, kicking each other. Once as my hand came up it caught another swimmer’s hand as his came up. Fortunately, the regular patrons are very polite and we apologized and moved on.
This is the only complete recreation centre in New Westminster, therefore I think spending the money to add an additional two lanes to make it 10 lanes would be a strategic, visionary decision. I believe the facility is currently at capacity. Over the years I have seen the increase, and the projection is for more people to move into New Westminster, so I might ask where will these people go?
As much as I enjoy the hot tub, I would say cancel it and give us the extra lanes. In 1979 and for several years after there was no hot tub. There were a few weight machines where the hot tub is currently located and the upstairs was not open. I would find this rebuild to be a waste of money if at the end all we do is combine the two buildings and have a pool the same size. I can imagine the volume of diverse responses from the two years of community engagement, but I strongly believe everyone will want it done right the first time. I say spend the money now because we are building a facility for another 40 years. Be visionary! Be strategic!
Angela Sealy, New Westminster
