Photo courtesy of Colton McKee

By Scott Roblin

Pool Closure

Family Leisure Centre pool to close for maintenance later this week

Aug 12, 2019 | 6:12 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat’s most well-used pool will be closing down for the next two weeks as annual maintenance gets underway.

The Kinsmen Aquatic Park at the Family Leisure Centre will officially close on Friday and will remain out of operation until September 2.

However, the Family Leisure Centre’s 50 metre pool will shut down the day prior on Thursday.

Medicine Hat’s superintendent or recreation operations Stephane Rainville said they need the two weeks to clean the filters and replace any aging parts.

“Every year we change two or three filters, we remove all the sand, put new new sand in it,” said Rainville. “We look after all the parts maintenance, take them apart, rebuild them.”

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Despite the annual shutdown falling in the middle of the summer break for most students, Rainville said it’s a stretch that most of the community feels comfortable with.

“Four years ago we sat down with our user groups to find out what is the best time for you,” he said. “That was one of the times that was the best, also because our other pools are open.”

One major upgrade coming to the 50 metre pool will be the installation of a new LED lighting system.

“I think we’re doing a duty to be environmentally friendly,” said Rainville. “LED is the way to go now. The lights that we have are good, but they’re starting to get yellow. Every year we have to change the bulbs, that is quite costly.”

Rainville added the changes will be a benefit for those swimming one particular style at the FLC.

“One of the benefits is when swimmers swim backstroke and look up at the ceiling, they’re not going to see a spotlight in their face,” he said.

While the Kinsmen Aquatic Park will be shut down, the City will still have the Crestwood Pool, Strathcona Pool, Heights Pool, and Hill Pool open for public use.