Luxury or necessity? Swimmers protest as city considers smaller west-end pool to save $58M

Members of Edmonton’s elite aquatics community protested outside city hall Monday, opposing a proposal in the budget to shrink the size of a west-end pool.

The Lewis Farms Recreation Centre has been approved by councillors for over $311 million.

But since the design phase, supply-chain crunches and inflation led to an increase in the price to build the facility.

Administration has proposed cutting back on the design, namely the size of the pool, in order to save the city from an additional $58 million in debt.

“We need this pool, it’s a necessity,” said 14-year-old Hazel Bauders, a member of the Tsunami Water Polo club.

Right now, the pool and dive tank at the Kinsmen are the only city facilities in Edmonton capable of hosting a national competition. And the rivalry to book this space – between water polo, divers, synchronized swimming and speed swimming – is fierce.

“It can get really claustrophobic,” said 13-year-old Piper Johnson, a member of Nova Artistic Swimming.

Piper says crowded pools can be a big problem.

“Especially when we are practising our routines, because we need to move a lot.”

Swimmers, athletes protest proposal to shrink original size of pool at Lewis Farms Recreation Centre. (Credit: CityNews/Carly Robinson)

Some young athletes are pushed into late timeslots. At just 13, Ava Kyfiuks says her practices often go until 10:30 p.m., and she needs to be back at the pool at 6 a.m. for additional training.

“People’s dreams of Olympics, and college, will shrink” says Kyfiuks.

She fears this sends the message Edmonton doesn’t care about competitive aquatic sports.

More than elite sports

The chair of the Aquatics Council of Edmonton believes the benefits of a larger pool in west Edmonton go beyond elite sports.

“It’s so frustrating to wait for lessons,” said Chris Nelson, who believes the facility at Lewis Farms will free up space on long waiting lists for swimming lessons.

This is part of the reason Ward Nakota Isga councillor Andrew Knack believes the facility will benefit the whole of Edmonton. Knack points to the fact the only city-run pool in west Edmonton is Jasper Place, forcing many to travel outside their neighbourhood.

“West-end residents right now, are using up programing space in other parts of the city, which restricts parents and families in those areas,” said Knack.

Digital rendering of proposed aquatic facility at Lewis Farms Recreation Centre. (Credit: City of Edmonton/handout)

Larger pool is a luxury: councillor

But as Edmonton eyes difficult budget decisions, some see the larger pool as a luxury.

“There’s a difference between wants, and our needs,” says ward papastew councillor Micheal Janz. “And we have to address our needs before we address our wants, especially when we have very little debt room left.”

For Knack, he sees the $58 million in added debt as relatively small in relation to the larger budget.

Public consultations continue this week, with budget deliberations continuing into mid December.