Coquitlam council may pull the plug on the city's oldest outdoor pool.
City staff said this week there will be no summer swimming again this year at Rochester Pool because of cracks in the tank and gutters.
The 44-year-old Maillardville pool has been failing since 2007 and, last year, classes were shuffled to Spani and Eagle Ridge pools, which staff say have room for extra swim learners.
"Coquitlam is facing some challenges with aging infrastructure," aquatics manager Jason Blood told Monday's council-in-committee meeting, adding that Rochester is "near the end of its life.... We have been on borrowed time."
According to a city report, it would cost $170,000 to repair the 25-yard concrete basin or $4 million to rebuild it. Another option is to decommission the pool and/or re-use the pool and change rooms for other recreational uses.
Coquitlam staff have approached the cities of Port Coquitlam and Port Moody to conduct a joint study this spring on outdoor pools in the Tri-Cities; a report is expected to come before council in September before next year's budget deliberations, Blood said. With a depth ranging from 2.5 to five feet, Rochester Pool is primarily used by young children and families. With operational costs averaging $77,400 a year and usage low, the pool is heavily subsidized by the city, with taxpayers' cost per visit ranging from $11.05 to $14.60.
Rochester has also been the target of vandals; in 2002, the change rooms had to be rebuilt after they were set on fire.
Some councillors at Monday's meeting suggested Rochester isn't worth the money it would take to keep it open.
"This is a sad day," said Mayor Richard Stewart, who grew up in Maillardville and worked as a lifeguard at the pool. But he acknowledged other outdoor pools built some 50 years ago (i.e., Brookmere and Glen parks) are no longer open.
"Rochester Pool should be demolished," Coun. Lou Sekora said, noting the high cost to rebuild "makes no sense at all."
Stewart said should Rochester be decommissioned, he would like to see Rochester Park be reconfigured given the lack of green space in Maillardville, a neighbourhood the city is in the process of trying to revitalize and densify.
Meanwhile, the city anticipates opening its new water spray park and skate park at the redeveloped Mackin Park by the summer, said Joyce Fordyce, Coquitlam's manager of leisure services.
As well, to make up for the amenity loss at Rochester, city staff are considering a weekday nature play program - costing $55,000 - for all ages at Rochester Park this summer, opening up the pool change rooms for participants.
