Crystal Pool: One Perspective

New Crystal Pool would be a great deal

Do we need a new pool and fitness ­centre? We sure do.

The Crystal Pool was built in 1971. The engineers’ reports, from as long ago as 2015, said upgrades are needed to keep facility operational in future.

More recent reports cite many of the systems and components are failing; the facility no longer meets the current building and accessibility codes; it is the city’s largest emitter of greenhouse ­gasses. All things we can’t see when visiting.

If you don’t want to read the reports, or check out the website, crystalpool.ca, ask the beleaguered maintenance staff.

Is a pool and fitness centre a “frill”?

Ask the more than 400,000 annual users, ages a few months to some in their 90s, who go to fitness classes and ­workouts, on land and in the water; learn to swim, kayak, scuba dive, or to be a lifeguard; train for competition; take classes in dance, yoga, pilates; work with therapy experts; attend camps, road trips, general and special interest events — all for, at most, $6.31 per visit and as little as pennies per day if a child, or with a pass.

Specialized classes and training are, of course, provided for a modest fee.

Can we afford a new pool and wellness centre?

Households (not individuals) don’t have to pay $169 million. They pay only to borrow the money, a cost of, at most, $240 per year, less if the project gets federal and/or provincial grants.

$240 per year equates to buying a $3 cup of coffee, 80 days in a whole year.

A good deal?

You bet! Pauline McCullagh Victoria