Spani Outdoor Pool is entering its 50th year of service and the City has identified the renewal of the pool as a priority project in the Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan and the Aquatic Services and Infrastructure Strategy.
The City launched the Spani Pool Renewal Study in spring 2020 to define the upgrades and cost of renewing the pool, which features a 25-metre lap pool, dive tank, changerooms and washrooms. Public engagement included a community survey, dedicated engagement page at www.letstalkcoquitlam.ca/spani and direct consultation with stakeholders and user groups. A public survey was completed in September 2020. Learn more at letstalkcoquitlam.ca/spani.
Detailed design to come in 2022
Staff are preparing a detailed design to present to Council in early 2022 based on a vision of Spani as a summer retreat in a forested setting with swimming and leisure opportunities for all residents. The expanded facility will be more inclusive for all ages and abilities, and maximize the range of aquatic lessons and programming offerings.
Proposed features will include:
- A shallow beach entry, splash area, lazy river and separate hot pool;
- A 1.2-metre deep end for fun activities for children and youth;
- A warm-up area during swim meets and a back-up lap swimming area;
- Accessible universal changerooms and year-round accessible public washrooms;
- A servery; and
- An indoor multi-purpose room for year-round programming.
Facility Upgrades to Improve Accessibility, Efficiency
The project will include reconstructing the buildings on site and renovating the existing tank, gutter system and decking. A new building location will allow for a more accessible and efficient pick-up and drop-off area, and the sidewalk will be extended from the bus stop to improve access to transit users.
To improve energy efficiency and manage greenhouse gas emissions, the facility will make use of sustainable technologies such as solar thermal, sanitary heat recovery, an air source heat pump and high-efficiency gas boilers.
The current Capital Plan includes $8 million for the project, and the City has also sought provincial and federal infrastructure funding. Completing the project in a single phase is estimated to cost $18 million.
The renewal of Spani Pool is a key project in the City’s upcoming Major Recreation and Cultural Facilities Roadmap (MRCFR), a high-level document that will provide transparency for taxpayers by outlining the anticipated scheduling and costs to build, staff and operate City facilities.
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