Help Plan the Future of Courtenay’s Outdoor Pool

The Courtenay and District Memorial Outdoor Pool in Lewis Park, a summertime destination in the Comox Valley since 1949, is showing its advanced age, and in the coming years may require either significant repairs or potential replacement. The City of Courtenay wants to hear from the public on the future of the outdoor pool.

Share your feedback through an online survey by September 12, 2023.

www.courtenay.ca/aquaticstrategy

Survey respondents will have a chance to win a 11-punch drop-in fitness and Wellness Centre pass for the Courtenay Recreation Lewis Centre.

Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells said the outdoor pool, in its current condition, is reaching the end of its useful life. “The outdoor pool is a much-loved facility, but it’s nearly 75 years old; we’re at a stage where we need to make some big decisions about its future,” said Wells. “We’ve extended its lifespan by many years through maintenance and repairs but now its time to plan for its long-term future. The Draft Comox Valley Aquatic Strategy gave us a few options to consider, and we’re asking the community to fill out the survey and share their thoughts.”

The new outdoor pool survey comes on the heels of a Comox Valley-wide analysis of public pools in the region.  Earlier this year, the City of Courtenay and the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) completed a Draft Aquatic Needs Strategy which provided direction for the future of aquatic services in the region.

Community feedback through the aquatic strategy showed the outdoor pool is well-used and highly valued in the community. The aquatic strategy also notes that the outdoor pool doesn’t meet current physical accessibility requirements and is located in a flood plain.

This new outdoor pool survey asks for feedback on specific options impacting the outdoor pool that were presented in the Draft Aquatic Needs Strategy, including pool repair, replacement, relocation, and closure, with estimated costs for each. Feedback gathered through the survey will help guide the City in determining next steps.

Feedback from the survey along with facility assessments and final outcomes of the Draft Aquatic Needs Strategy will be presented to Council in the Fall.

For more information, visit www.courtenay.ca/aquaticstrategy