The controversial Kitsilano Pool reservation system could soon be gone.
Vancouver Park Board Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard says she’s submitted a motion ahead of next week’s meeting to ask staff to bring back drop-in public access to the pool.
Howard is requesting staff to come up with a plan to remove the current system by Aug. 1.
“We’ve heard loud and clear the current system isn’t working and has prevented spontaneous access to one of the city’s most iconic summer destinations,” said Howard on social media.
“Let’s bring back drop-in access and get back to what public pools should be: a place for joy, not a source of stress.”
After another summer of long lines, empty lanes and missed swims, ABC Vancouver is taking action to eliminate advance booking at Kitsilano Outdoor Pool. pic.twitter.com/QQ4sJAJFHC
The reservation system was brought in during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when there was an increased need to manage capacity at city facilities.
According to Howard, it’s “now creating more barriers than benefits.”
“The motion calls for new measures such as real-time capacity tracking, designated swim times for vulnerable residents and improved communication around peak periods,” ABC Vancouver said online. “It directs staff to provide long-term access recommendations that prioritize fairness, efficiency and usability.”
