Submerging into a pool of warm water would certainly be quite therapeutic at the present time, especially considering the frigid weather Cochranites have endured this winter…but at what cost?
The Warm Water Therapy Pool Society informed council last week that it would very much appreciate some changes to the design of the proposed therapy pool area in the new aquatic/curling facility.
Some councillors, however, are trying to avoid drowning in debt from this project, which currently sits with an estimated $45 million price tag.
Council’s reaction to the society’s proposed changes — particularly from Mayor Ivan Brooker and Coun. Jeff Toews — was ‘bafflement,’ as Brooker put it, at the extent of the revisions sought, which included rising pool floors, a pool dedicated to those with medial conditions and, perhaps the key feature the society is ultimately looking for with this project, privacy.
It’s understandable that those who would utilize this type of facility would like to do so in a relatively peaceful atmosphere, free of amped-up, screaming children. But with the warm water therapy pool always having been planned to be located within the new aquatic centre, shouldn’t it be expected (and accepted) that there would be some level of activity around the area?
Looking at the design for the aquatic centre, one would see that there is an eight-lane lap pool in the northwest corner of the complex; to the south lies the leisure pool, lazy river and toddler pool; next to that is the whirl pool; and then you have the 184 cubic metre warm water therapy pool, which sits at a slightly elevated position, and is, as described by the Town of Cochrane, ‘designed to allow for the quietest and most private experience possible in the facility without being walled off from the rest of the facility.’
Is this not a respectable level of privacy?
The aquatic/curling centre is going to be a state-of-the-art facility, one that so far has been met with applause by some and condemnation from others, mostly due to the cost attached to it.
Should the town add to that cost? In the end, what’s more important: ensuring people will be 100 per cent satisfied with every aspect of the warm water therapy pool — and perhaps making it an ‘amenity destination,’ as society directed Richard Foy suggested to council — or making sure the cost of the pool/curling facility does not balloon out of control?
Pathway 8 of the Cochrane Sustainability Plan states, “We are a caring community that lives and celebrates together,” and Pathway 11 says, “Wherever you are in Cochrane, you’re close and connected.”
What better way to show that you enjoy living and celebrating together and that we are all connected than for Cochrane and area residents of all ages to enjoy the new aquatic centre together, and accept the fact that waterlogged kids will be frolicking about a short distance from the therapy pool?
A couple of months ago, when the cost of the aquatic/curling centre sat at $54 million, council was full steam ahead, looking to get shovels in the ground ASAP. Town administration trimmed $9 million from the project, which many councillors and Cochrane residents seemed pleased with.
But if this facility is not built right, and too many corners are cut to keep the price in check, will we all ultimately suffer? Perhaps it would be a better approach to throw caution to the wind and just build it big, build it right and don’t hold back.
Would Cochrane support such a move? That would depend who you ask.
