The results are in and it turns out High River residents want a new pool and they want it built on the site of the Bob Snodgrass Recreation Complex.

From October last year until February, the Town’s Parks and Recreation Division conducted a feasibility study about recreation facility development priorities in High River, specifically for the Rec-plex.

Manager Craig Stanley said the community was offered three choices.

"One was to build and renovate the exiting pool space and expand that," said Stanley. "Another was to build an aquatic facility off-site and the third option was to not build a new pool until the population in High River got to the point that it could support a new aquatic facility given that they are expensive to build and maintain."

Based on feedback from the community and stakeholders, and a business case analysis, the need and desire for a new aquatics facility was identified.

When stakeholders were asked about a choice between a pool at the Rec-Plex or at the Charles Clark Park the choice came back to the Rec-Plex.

The study showed a new aquatics facility at the Rec-Plex site will cost 23 per cent less to build and 14 per cent less to operate than one at Charles Clark Park.

Two-thirds of the people taking part in the study preferred it to be located at the Rec-Plex.

The plans for the project at the Bob Snodgrass would see the current pool area renovated.

"Renovating it to include washrooms, a family change room, potentially a fitness centre and a climbing gym was more attractive and preferential to the community than the other option at the Charles Clark Park adjacent to the Library."

Stanley said they had a large enough sample size of the community that made the survey data relevant to the questions.

"It certainly gave us enough weight in our recommendations to Council to show this is a good representation of the communities opinion."

The results of the study were presented to Council on February 12th.

The Town’s Parks and Recreation Division will now develop an implementation plan containing suggested steps and requirements for development, including project governance, engagement, the architectural process for a project of this kind, and ideas for options for funding strategies.

 

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