For the first time this season, Kits Pool will open to the public Wednesday.
Advance reservations at the beloved Vancouver hotspot are not required, but the city says they are recommended.
“We allocate 25 per cent of spaces for drop-in sessions, but admission is not always guaranteed, depending on demand,” says the city’s website.
The pool itself has been the subject of some controversy for a while due to its aging and being in desperate need of repairs or being replaced entirely.
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Last month, city officials and the Vancouver Park Board released their plans to fix it up, but admitted it would cost millions of dollars.
Each option comes with different budgets and expected lifespans. The most expensive one proposes a complete replacement of the facility, which would cost anywhere between $230 to $300 million.
The two cheaper options would be less invasive: either a renovation of the existing facility at an expected cost of $90 million or a repair of its malfunctioning elements for approximately $40 million.
While the cheapest option would extend the pool’s lifespan by another 15 years, renovating would double that, and replacing it would see it last another 75 years.
“Each option involves different trade-offs related to cost, longevity, climate resilience, service continuity, and alignment with broader citywide infrastructure priorities,” said a statement dated May 4.
Both Vancouver City Council and Park Board will debate the proposed options as part of the 2027-2030 Capital Plan.
In April, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim committed $400 million to either rebuild or renovate five aging community centres, including Dunbar, Kerrisdale, Hastings, Roundhouse, and Kensington, but he didn’t mention any long-term plans for Kits Pool.
Kits Pool, which opened in August of 1931, is North America’s longest outdoor pool.
Vancouver has a couple of other outdoor pool facilities that are operating right now. Second Beach Pool and New Brighton Pool are open for business. Maple Grove Pool opened on June 15.
— With files from Jan Schuermann