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The Town of Orangeville will begin a full assessment of the pool at the Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre. This assessment will identify the full extent of remediation required for the pool and consider other usage opportunities for the facility.

Discussion about the future of the pool arose from the failure of the facility's dehumidification unit in late June. At the time, the pool was shut down to allow staff to assess the extent of costs related to replacement and consider what the best course of action might be.

“This isn’t just about one piece of equipment,” said Heather Savage, General Manager of Community Services. “It’s about due diligence, allowing us to assess what’s best for the community, what we can afford, and providing the opportunity to present well-considered options to the Council.”

During the July 8 meeting of Council, staff were directed to conduct the assessment and report back with the findings. Council also requested Recreation and Transportation staff work together to assess and communicate the bus routes and access between both recreation facilities.

The facility needs assessment will review current user rates at both recreation facilities, analyze future demands, compare to similar municipalities while ensuring the plan meets industry standards. The pool will remain closed during the assessment.

As part of the next steps, Mayor Lisa Post will also work with community partners such as the YMCA and County of Dufferin Mayors to pursue opportunities to enhance aquatics and recreation opportunities in Orangeville and the region.

“The reality is that the taxpayers of Orangeville have been footing the bill for a majority of the recreation offerings in the County of Dufferin forever, specifically the capital expenditures,” noted Mayor Post. “It is time to think differently about how we move forward; this moment in time is our opportunity to do that.”

As aquatics programming from Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre has shifted over to the Alder Street Recreation Centre pools, Recreation staff have continued to optimize their offerings. Based on current projections, by 2025 the pool could accommodate swimming lessons for 10,000 swimmers per year.

“We are building our fall programming around the feedback we’ve received from our patrons,” said Sharon Doherty-Gaudin, Manager of Recreation and Events. “Our goal is to maximize programming for everyone – from aquafit to lane swims, children’s lessons, and more. We are listening to the public and meeting with our user groups to develop these plans.”

Council and Staff stressed during the meeting that the closure discussion does not extend to the full Tony Rose Memorial Sports Centre facility. The pool is the only element that will be closed during the study.

“The time is needed to create a data-driven report on how this space can best serve our community,” said Savage. “The findings of this study will give us a clearer understanding of the financial investment required to ensure the pool is fully functioning and examine what other options may exist for the space.”