New Maple Leaf Pool to open in 2020; Wascana Pool in 2021

The City of Regina is laying out its plans to rebuild Maple Leaf and Wascana Pools, with opening dates tentatively scheduled for 2020 and 2021.

The city was originally planning to shut down Maple Leaf Pool and invest $16.5 million to transform Wascana Pool into a “destination aquatic facility.” But public outcry at December’s budget meeting derailed that plan.

Instead, council voted to replace Maple Leaf Pool with a new pool in the same location, with planning and construction to begin as soon as possible.

While there was some talk of using the money initially slated for the Wascana Pool upgrade to pay for both projects, council did not settle on a funding plan.

Thursday’s meeting of council’s Community and Protective Services Committee will look at a proposed timeline for rebuilding the pools. If the recommendations pass, the city would start by seeking a contractor to design them. Demolition of the existing Maple Leaf Pool would begin by mid-2019.

Administration isn’t expected to bring forward a financing plan until late this year, with a construction tender to be awarded at that time. Construction of the new Maple Leaf Pool would begin in early 2020 with the opening date slated for sometime after mid-year.

The new Wascana Pool wouldn’t be ready until 2021, according to the timeline. But it would stay open during the 2019 season.

The timeline also calls for consultation with the Heritage Community Association to look at other programming to fill the gap, as well as transportation options for residents to access other pools while the work continues. Administration hopes to have something in place by mid-2019.

There is currently enough money in place to complete all of this year’s work, according to administration. But council will have to figure out how it will pay for the bulk of the costs through the 2020 budget process.