KITS POOL RENEWAL

Dear Kits Pool Swimmers,

With Kits Pool now open, it is a terrific reminder of how this remarkable pool transforms the experience of swimming, as so many people have commented upon in the last few days.

We are reaching out at this time in response to the recently launched survey by the City of Vancouver and Parks Board in relation to the renewal of Kits Pool. As we have communicated, Kits Pool Swimmers is committed to  galvanizing and organizing the passionate Kits Pool community with the imperative to reimagine and replace this globally recognized community jewel.  

Our group has had strong support in our discussions with the Park Board and City of Vancouver and have taken a collaborative approach. However, the survey that was just released does not focus on the core deliverables we have identified as a group and through the survey of Kits Pool Swimmers we conducted, the results from which can be found at www.kitspoolswimmers.org

In response, we have had dialogue with the Park Board leadership this week and have confirmed their intent to fully explore the options for Kits Pool’s future. As it relates to the survey, our recommendation is to emphasize the core deliverables in responses – emphasizing the experience and history attributed to the length of the pool, 137.5 metres, and extending the season to serve the community better and utilize the facility optimally. Based on the survey design, these priorities will have to be written in the comment sections.

·       137.5 metre length – 137.5 is the theme of our efforts, purposefully chosen to recognize the length of the pool and that we must GO THE DISTANCE in protecting the experience it delivers. For instance, the Kits Pool experience would be drastically diminished with a 50m pool at Kits Beach as the outcome of this renewal, and such an outcome would not merit any attention worldwide as an attraction or contribute to the identity of Vancouver. Our efforts must guard against anything shorter than 137.5m,  preserving the experience and Kits Pool’s global stature by ensuring the renewed pool honours this defining element of its identity and history.

·       Extended season – The City of Vancouver would benefit from the added capacity a longer season would offer as there is a shortage of pools, outdoor and indoor, for our population. We are promoting the idea that the new Kits Pool be a showcase for architectural and technological innovations that would allow for a year-round season and become the signature shot of the City of Vancouver as the Sydney Opera House is for Sydney, Australia.

As noted above, we encourage those who are filling out the City’s feasibility survey or speaking with their team on site over the next few days to emphasize the importance of 137.5 metres and the extended season in the comments sections and in person. The City Survey can be found at this link: https://survey.talkvancouver.com/jfe/form/SV_6h51zvt2vR98jZ4 - and City and Park Board staff will be on site at the pool on the following dates and times:

·       Saturday, June 28 from 2-5pm

·       Friday, July 4 from 4-7pm

·       Sunday, July 6 from noon-3pm

It is as clear as the water today that the Kits Pool Swimmers community and all residents who love Kits Pool will need to step up the level of engagement in this process to make sure that the result of this renewal will be optimal for generations to come. This window of time is crucial to make that happen and goes deeper than any short-term political windows – the City and community will live with the results of this renewal for 50-75 years.

In our discussions, the Park Board has said that their process will be looking at a “like for like” replacement. To achieve our goals including preserving the 137.5m experience and an extended season, the community will need to raise funds to go above and beyond that ceiling serving as a catalyst and creating a showcase.

In terms of that showcase, we see a tremendous opportunity – one that goes beyond architectural innovation and new technologies - working together, we can develop and illustrate a visionary model for collaboration between City’s and engaged, organized community groups, such as Kits Pool Swimmers - achieving an outcome that neither could envision or make real separately.

Toward that goal, we are taking steps to identify and connect with community leaders to join and empower our efforts in going above and beyond the normal frameworks in place with the City.

We will provide updates on this in the near future, please reach out with any questions at info@kitspoolswimmers.org  and please share this communication, emphasizing the importance of signing up at www.kitspoolswimmers.org   for this important phase that will define the future of Kits Pool for generations.

Thank you for your continued support,

Kits Pool Swimmers Steering Committee