A new, privately operated indoor swimming pool in Port Coquitlam could help ease some of the growing demand for kids’ swimming lessons in the Tri-Cities.
Pedalheads Swim is a 6,000-square-foot aquatic facility located in the Fremont Village shopping centre. It includes change rooms, shower stations and even stroller parking.
The special stainless steel learning pool spans several units at 615 Village Dr. Its shallow depth and the water’s 32 C temperature makes an ideal environment for young swimmers to feel comfortable, according to a news release.
Pedalheads is a Vancouver-based company that specializes in swimming and cycling programs for kids as well as soccer and trail riding day camps. Since it was founded in 1986, it’s expanded to more than 250 locations across North America.
While most Pedalheads swimming programs book blocks of time at private pools in fitness facilities, clubs and condo complexes, the company said building and operating its own facility will help make swimming lessons accessible to more families as well as address the shortage of indoor pools in the Tri-Cities.
The results of a recent poll conducted by the City of Port Moody as it crafts a new master plan for parks and recreation facilities indicates a growing desire for an indoor pool; 61 per cent of respondents said the city’s facilities are inadequate and 53 per cent noted an indoor pool to accommodate lane swimming, lessons and aquafit should be a top priority.
“There is a strong demand for an indoor pool in Port Moody,” said the report, adding swimming lessons for children are especially constrained because the city has just two outdoor pools that can only operate in the summer months. As well, resident-first registration policies in neighbouring communities makes it difficult for families to get into facilities in Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Burnaby and New Westminster.
Pedalheads will celebrate its new pool with an open house April 18 and 19 that includes opportunities for kids 2-12 to try a brief 25-minute lesson in small groups for just a $5 donation to the company’s Pedalheads+ program that provides bikes, helmets and cycling camps to underserved communities. Registration is required.
A pool party on April 19 features tours, music, food, drinks and games. It’s open to all visitors.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
