Chilly but busy day for reopening of renovated Kiwanis Park pool

KITCHENER — “It’s cold! It’s cold!”

With those exclamations, the young girl hustled out of the new pool in Kitchener’s Kiwanis Park.

Admission was free all day Saturday to celebrate the grand reopening of the pool, after it was closed last summer for renovations.

The sky was overcast and the water cool, but that didn’t keep kids and adults alike out of the pool.

Shortly after the park opened at 10 a.m., the pool and splash pad were busy and many families had set up for a leisurely day on the surrounding lawn.

“You’ve got to be here early if you want a picnic table,” said Ross Sutherland.

The Kitchener man and his wife, Rosemary Rooyakkers, were the first to arrive when the park opened, grabbing a picnic table in a prime spot under trees. They brought along their new barbecue to make lunch when Rooyakkers’ daughter and two grandchildren arrived.

They were eager to see the new and improved pool.

“It’s a lot better than the old one,” Sutherland said.

The city spent $4.1 million to demolish the aging pool and completely rebuild it to meet current health standards, with improved filtration and accessibility, and add a splash pad.

The popular swimming spot was closed last summer. During the work, the park was not maintained or open to vehicles, but pedestrians could still access the trails, dog park, shoreline fishing and sports fields.

Angie McKenna came from her nearby Waterloo home to check it out with her children Aiden, 11, and Ruby, nine, who gave the new pool two thumbs up.

“My kids always liked coming here before the pool closed,” McKenna said.

Both children tested out the pool right away, but McKenna was happy to relax in a chair on the grass. Their chilled hands were all the proof she needed to stay put.

“They’ve come out and grabbed my hand and I thought ‘I’m going to stay right where I am,’ ” McKenna said.

Sharon Schmidt watched as her granddaughter enjoyed the splash pad. The pair came often in the year before the pool closed for renovations.

“She was just learning to walk and enjoy the water,” Schmidt said. “Now that she’s three, she loves the water.”

Earlier both were in the pool, which mimics a beach with a gentle slope into the water around the whole edge.

“It’s a lot of fun for kids,” said Schmidt.

She packed a picnic lunch to enjoy at the park, and a cosy towel that she wrapped around her granddaughter who was shivering from the splash pad.

“I was hoping it would be warmer,” Schmidt said.

Saturday was Neighbours Day in Kitchener, an annual event on the second Saturday in June, where neighbours come together to celebrate the community. Events are run by the city or community members.