Every summer for the past 16 years, Carlyle and District Leisure Complex has opened for business.
Every summer, hundreds of people have visited the pool and taken a refreshing dip on a hot day.
Every summer, the pool has provided entertainment and fun for children and adults of all ages.
But imagine if we didn't have the pool. Imagine if one day, you loaded up the children, headed to the pool and a closed sign hung on the gate. Imagine if that closed sign was a permanent fixture.
Carlyle and District Leisure Complex is in need of repairs. Without these repairs, the pool won't open for business this summer.
The pool, junior Olympic in size, was originally built in 1995. The 25-meter, 6-lane pool is now 16-years-old. "Originally the pool was funded largely by grants, donations by local businesses and community members, as well as a number of note-loans which were taken out and co-signed by various members of the community, said volunteer board President Mandy Irwin. "Originally, the pool had a four-phase plan. Phase one being the pool as it stands, phase two being zero entry, phase three and four enclosing the facility to create an indoor pool. As I understand it, the board had a goal of five years to go between phases initially."
"It actually took us 13 years to even get those loans paid off and since then, we have had nothing but breakdowns. Very costly ones. The heater in the paddling pool, heater in the main pool, replacement of the pumps and now this year, it was the hot tub at a cost of $32,000. At this rate, there is no hope for us to ever get ahead and realize our dreams of seeing the zero-entry pool happen."
In 2010, a structural assessment was performed and it was confirmed that the walls of the pool are near the end of their lives. In fact, the facility has been losing water for a period of time. Every year, it is a question of whether the liner will hold.
"We have been limping through the past five years hoping that it was not going to be the year that the liner needed to be done, said the volunteer board President Mandy Irwin. "But the time has come. This past season, we had to actually pull the liner back up. And you may have noticed the numerous screws that went around the perimeter of the pool to hold it up. But we were told this spring, after having two different companies come in [to look at it], that there is no way that the pool can be filled again and actually hold."
"The liner is necessary to hold the water in. At this time, the walls are also corroding away and the cement in the bottom of the pool is heaving. The lowest costing repair that we have chosen to go with is to essentially build a pool within the existing pool. The walls will be rebuilt and reinforced, then the new liner will be put in."
"The cost of fixing the bottom of the pool has not yet been determined, as they will not be able to see the extent of the damage until the liner is pulled up. Because the zero entry dream is always there, we will ensure that the liner will be able to meet up seamlessly with the possible expansion in the years to come. Also, our hope is to take the shallow end up from four-feet deep to a three-foot depth to make it slightly more user friendly for younger families."
The pool, which aims to open before Boogie Fest each year in June, is open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on average and generally closes around Labour Day. "Approximately 100 people visit the Carlyle and District Leisure Complex per day throughout the summer months of June to September. We typically have 50 plus children registered in one set of swimming lessons and offer an average of five sets per summer. We all know the advantages of keeping active, and the related costs with regard to health, social, and environment, should these activities not be available."
"Although a large number are local, we have a very large drawing area with the smaller towns around us as well as the lakes. It is not abnormal to go to the pool on an afternoon and find many tourists and out-of-towners. The Provincial Park being so close is very beneficial to us. Also, with camping numbers being so high at Lions Park in the past few seasons, we find many of them utilizing the pools as well."
"Studies show that investing in Leisure Services has a dramatic positive impact on a community, and that large benefits to the community are obtained from recreational activities. Not only are the many out-of-town patrons coming to swim, but they are coming to visit our downtown sector as well."
The Carlyle and District Leisure Complex is not only for those wishing to take a leisurely swim or a refreshing dip on a hot day, a number of programs are offered throughout the summer as well. "Each year is dependent on the number and qualifications of staff, but in the past we have offered diving clinics and all levels of lessons including those required to obtain the Lifeguarding certification."
"Cornerstone Family and Youth partners with us each year to do Parent and Tot Splash time two mornings a week in the kiddie pool, and it has proven to be quite a success. This year we ran aqua size and also provided babysitting services where a lifeguard watched the kiddie pool and little ones, so that moms were able to get some physical activity of their own in during the daytime when their spouses were working."
"We really do try to make sure that there is something for everyone. In the past we have discussed, and have had people comment, that we need to raise our fees, but our goal is that we want to make this facility as affordable for as many people as possible. We do not want to make it too expensive that some [patrons] are not financially able to come and enjoy what we have to offer."
The Carlyle and District Leisure Complex is a non-profit volunteer board. "Our fundraising efforts go to the day-to-day operations of the pool. We have raised nearly $30,000 from our Sink or Swim Fundraiser to go towards expansion purposes, however, we are a long way from our goal to replace the pool basin, liner and zero beach entry. Our Boogie Fest Fundraising dollars typically goes towards the day-to-day operations, like, replacement of the pool heater, replacement of the hot tub and replacement of pool pumps."
Research shows that the benefits of swimming are numerous. It provides us with energy, helps us sleep better, prevents certain diseases and has an overall positive impact on our lives. In fact, a study of the Saskatchewan Healthcare System showed that for every one percent increase in recreation activity, it saves taxpayers $1.37 million in annual health care costs.
The replacement of the pool basin and liner is essential for the 2012 summer. The cost to replace the basin and liner is estimated at $100,000. As the pool currently stands, the pool will not hold for another year.
If the pool is to open next year, something must be done.
The Carlyle and District Leisure Complex needs the help of the community. The volunteer community board is currently looking for partners to help offset the cost of the project and lesson the burden to the community.
If you are interested in supporting your community pool and ensuring it remains available to community members in future years, you are asked to contact volunteer board member Mandy Irwin at 453-2336 at home or 577-7199 on her cell.
