An online petition is calling for the Vancouver Aquatic Centre not to be reduced to a smaller size.
The change.org petition, titled ‘We Need a 50m Pool for Vac’, was created on Feb. 18 and has received more than 6,000 signatures in just two days.
The Vancouver Park Board will vote Monday. on a proposal that would see the current 50-metre lap pool reduced to a 25-metre lap pool, a leisure pool, a large hot pool, dive towers, and other aquatic and recreation amenities.
"This proposed shrinking of the lap pool would reduce a public amenity vital for health, well-being, and sport in our growing community," said petition organizers by the name of "VAC Friends."
VAC, located on Beach Avenue, serves both the West End and downtown Vancouver residents as well as the surrounding region as a swim and dive training competition facility.
In 2023, VAC had 187,000 swimmers. The new proposal could welcome 415,000 swimmers per year.
A project team studied if a new 50-metre pool could be put forward in the 2023 and 2026 plan but due to "several considerations," expansion is not possible.
According to the proposal, the current 50-metre pool does not comply with modern pool tank standards or deck space.
Under the new plan with the reduced lane pool, the hot tub would be expanded from nine square metres to 125 square metres. A community multi-purpose room would also be added.
The proposal acknowledges the swim community's concern about the loss of the 50-metre pool and the potential reduction in capacity for swim clubs who currently use the centre.
The proposal also states that people in the swim program are requesting "the city and park board to consider increasing 50-metre swim capacity elsewhere in the city."
"The project team acknowledges the impact of losing the 50-metre pool space and impact on swim group rental availability — the team is committed to working with the user groups to explore relocation opportunities within the overall aquatic system,” states the proposal.
The pool was built in 1974. In 2019, it was nearing the end of its functional lifespan with a high priority for renewal.
In March 2022, the pool closed for some time after a large piece of the exterior building fell off. A couple of months later, in May, one of the precast wall panels failed.
Monday's vote will take place at 6:30 p.m.
