Patrons of the Ferny Coombe Outdoor Pool might notice a rather important fixture is gone.
In the weeks prior to the pool’s annual reopening, District of Kent officials have concluded that the badly-damaged diving board will not be replaced. While the decision is in part due to the future Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre, council also determined the risks and replacement cost to repair or replace the diving board were too great.
“We apologize for this temporary inconvenience and hope that this serves as further motivation to reach our (LRAC) fundraising goal of $21 million,” the district stated.
The pool itself has been in service since 1978 and has lived well beyond its life expectancy as well.
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During a recent council meeting, Coun. Stan Watchorn advocated for council to reconsider their decision on the diving board’s fate.
“A diving board is a really important thing for kids to have fun,” he said. “And if it’s $6,000 to replace it for two years while we’re building a pool, we just spent $220,000 on two trucks. I don’t know how we can’t spend $6,000 to put in a diving board so kids can have fun for the summer. I am disappointed and I would like to see that we replace the diving board.”
Coun. Kerstin Schwichtenberg disagreed, saying the diving board should not be the make-or-break component of a good time at the Ferny Coombe pool.
“Spending money on something that’s going to get dismantled in a year and a half, even if it’s $6,000, it’s still $6,000,” she said. “I’m in complete agreement with staff recommendations.”
There was a motion on the table to replace the diving board, but it was ultimately defeated.
adam.louis@ ahobserver.com
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