Decommission Thames Pool, redirect funds to possible new amenities, politicians say

A London city council committee has voted to decommission the Thames Pool, and look into what other amenities can be added to the park. 

The pool has been a point of contention among Old South residents since the spring, when a staff report recommended the 96-year-old facility be left dormant due to its location on a flood plain. Annual repairs since 2016 have cost the city $238,500. A full rebuild would have cost $12 million, while options for basic repairs would have cost more than $2 million. 

"It is not going to make the community happy, but we cannot continue to put Band-Aid repairs into this pool," said acting mayor Shawn Lewis during Tuesday's meeting. "It is just not the right option." 

Lewis, who is standing in while Mayor Josh Morgan is away this week, suggested instead giving the community new amenities such as pickleball and basketball courts or a spray pad. 

The money that would have gone to repairs could also go to a feasibility study for a new indoor pool elsewhere, he said. Possible locations could be in Murray Park, Rowntree Park or other city-owned properties. 

"When you look at the history of this pool, it's a 1959 full rebuild. Another full rebuild in the 1970s. Major renovations and repairs in the 1980s. Major renovations and repairs again in the 1990s," said Lewis. 

"This is the wrong location for a pool and we should not put additional dollars into it."

An online petition calling for the outdoor pool to stay open collected more than 1,500 signatures, when the subject was first broached, and a large group of people came together to express why they felt it deserved to be saved. Retired Canadian Paralympic swimmer Adam Purdy was among them, recounting how he'd spend many hours training at the facility. 

Coun. Skylar Franke opposed the motion, saying covering the cost of repairs would be an investment into something Londoners cared about. 

"The main driver I think in this community is they want a walkable aquatic facility and more than a splash pad. Although I think a splash pad would be nice, but they are seeking some sort of pool facility," said Franke. 

Members of the community and protective services committee voted 5-1 in favour of the motion. The issue still have to be voted on by all city councillors.