The Vancouver Park Board says the five-decade-old pool has reached the end of its service life, and the facility has, in some cases, literally begun crumbling.
Sports groups in Vancouver are criticizing the proposed design for the new Vancouver Aquatic Centre, arguing that the smaller 25-metre main lap pool will significantly reduce available swimming space compared to the current 50-metre pool. They claim this will lead to overcrowding and negatively impact athletic training. The Vancouver Park Board, which oversees the project, emphasizes that the new design aims to increase accessibility and usage, targeting an 80% capacity utilization compared to the current 30%. Critics, including swim clubs and athletes, argue that the smaller pool will severely limit their ability to train and compete effectively. The debate comes after voters approved $140 million for the new facility in a 2022 plebiscite, which had initially promised a 50-metre pool. A petition opposing the design has gathered over 6,000 signatures.
