New pool for Town of Picture Butte

Posted on January 30, 2018 by Sunny South News

By Nikki Jamieson
Sunny South News

The Town of Picture Butte is going to be building a new Aquatic Centre.

Last Thursday, in a press release from the town, they announced that council has approved $1.6 million budget for the construction of a new pool, a toddler pool, building and play features.

The current pool facilities were built in 1967, and have since outlived their lifespan, promoting the need for new pool facilities for the town.

“They’ve outlived their lifespan, and there is operational difficulties with the current pool building,” said Keith Davis, CAO for the town. “Over the years, there’s been a number of re-dos to the pool — the base has been redone, and there’s been work done on the deck and area — it’s just due to be redone, to be rebuilt, and it’s one of the recommendations within the recreation and culture master plan as well.”

The town is currently undergoing a Request for Proposals, for a construction manage, to assist the town with the design and construction process. Once that process is complete, Requests for Tenders will go out.

Although the process for the new pool is still in it’s early stages, once the town has some conceptual designs for it, they will seek public input from.

Construction is expected to start later this year. To facilitate construction, the pool will be closed for the 2018 season.

“We’re just trying to make the pool family friendly, that was another reason why we decided to just redo it, because with any expansion, we have to move the pool building, so it just makes sense to do the pool and the pool building at once, and we can make it more family friendly, and make it a place where families want to come and stay and bring the whole family, and everyone can be entertained there.”