Swimming lessons move outdoors

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This article was published 18/06/2020 (1826 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For the first time in nearly 20 years, since the indoor Steinbach Aquatic Centre opened in 2002, the City of Steinbach will be offering swim lessons at the adjacent outdoor pool this summer.

This is all necessitated because of the closure of the aquatic centre in mid-March due to COVID-19. This set in motion a decision by the city to undergo some scheduled repairs and maintenance on the facility which were planned for next year. Renovations to the aquatic centre, which were planned to take place in 2021, have been on the city’s radar for some time.

Work has already begun on the improvements to the indoor facility, which will include the repainting of the main pool atrium as well as the replacement of light fixtures and acoustical panels, at a total project cost of just under $1.5 million.

It is expected the work will take about 12 weeks to complete, or until about the end of August or early September.

Once the indoor facility reopens, it won’t have to shut down again for the annual fall maintenance. That work was completed in March when the aquatic centre was first closed to the public.

Meanwhile, the outdoor pool and the outdoor splash park opened to the public on June 12, with all the necessary restrictions in place and operating at a reduced capacity.

Aquatic centre manager Jane Hansen says they are limiting the outdoor pool to a maximum of 75 swimmers, which is just under 50% capacity. People are asked to call the aquatic centre at 204-346-6207 to pre-book swim times, or purchase swim tickets online, as there will be a very limited number of walk-ins allowed.

Swimmers are also asked to come to the pool dressed in their swimming attire.

Hansen says they are adjusting to what will be a different summer for the aquatic centre due to the indoor facility not being available and of course the physical distancing requirements at the outdoor pool.

Registrations for swimming lessons at the outdoor pool will be held next week. If you live in Steinbach, as always, you are in luck as those tax dollars you pay for the facility mean you can register for swim lessons on June 23, while those residents outside the city can register on June 24.

“We don’t really know what to expect as to how many registrations we may get but I am assuming it will be quite a busy summer with lessons,” said Hansen. She says physical distancing in the swim lessons, with 4 to 8 kids in some of the classes, will not be difficult to adhere to.

Complete information on swimming lesson registration and registration protocols are available online at steinbch.ca.