Outdoor pools in Regina won't close, mayor says

Regina mayor Michael Fougere says no outdoor pools in the city will close, sending the question of what to do about the aging facilities back to officials.

The fate ofsome city-run outdoor pools was debated at city council Monday night, with many worried residents making submissions in favour of keeping their neighbourhood pools open.

At the end of the evening, city council decided not to adopt recommendations in a report by officials and instead directed administrators to take another look at the situation.

Administrators hadprovided aplan to close two of five community poolsadding some spray pads instead. The plan also called for a major redevelopment and expansion of Wascana Pool, in Wascana Park.

Earlier on Tuesday, just ahead of the council meeting, Fougere said he expected the pools to remain open.

"From my perspective I don't see us closing pools," he said.

The city notes that three of the five pools serve populations that may not have easy access to other leisure activities:

• Regent Pool borders the north area of the North Central neighbourhood
• Dewdney Pool is located in the south area of North Central
• Maple Leaf Pool is in the Heritage neighbourhood

Wascana Pool serves families around the city. The fifth facility is Massey Pool, located in the south end near Campbell Collegiate.

In her written submission to council, Jean Clive said she hopes councillors can find a way to keep open her neighbourhood pool, Maple Leaf.

"Every community needs a hub, a place to gravitate to, a place this is ours," she said in her submission to council. "As we have nothing else, not even a neighbourhood centre, the Maple Leaf pool serves just that purpose."