Outdoor pools free again this summer
Canada’s first natural pool will have free admission this summer — along with all of Edmonton’s regular outdoor pools.
On Tuesday, the city announced opening dates for its outdoor swimming facilities at Queen Elizabeth outdoor pool.
Pool openings are staggered: Fred Broadstock and Queen
■
Elizabeth open May 19.
Mill Creek opens June 1.
■
Oliver opens June 9.
■
Borden Park natural swimming
■
pool opens June 22.
Last year, free admission doubled outdoor pool attendance to 190,000 in 2017 from 88,639 in 2016.
Shauna Graham, the city’s leisure centre operations supervisor, said free admission is “for the social good.”
It was reported in February that the city would need to budget an additional $530,000 for free access to the five outdoor pools from May to September. A city spokesperson said in 2017 the cost of offering free access to outdoor pools was $450,000.
Free admission had pools reaching capacity earlier each day in warm weather, causing lineups, Graham said.
Pools have bubble blowers stocked to entertain young children waiting in line.
Once inside, Graham said swimmers should keep safe by following pool rules: opened beverages aren’t allowed in the facility, and groups should have one supervisor per three children.
Edmonton’s newest outdoor pool, the Borden Park natural swimming pool, is set to open in late June.
It was slated to open two summers ago, but was delayed due to a major redesign.
Instead of using chlorine to treat the water, the pool uses sand and granite filters, aquatic plants and plankton.
The project was budgeted for $14.5 million.
“Just like in the lakes ... There’s no chemicals at all,” Graham said.