Uxbridge Swim Club presents an alternative idea for future of local pool

DAN CEARNS The Standard

UXBRIDGE: The Uxbridge Swim Club is calling on the municipality to consider building a new facility to replace Uxpool.

At a meeting on Monday, October 21st, Sarah Steinke and Scott Briggs from the club made a presentation to councillors on how the current project affects the club and how the Township could handle it differently.

Ms. Steinke said the club had an “exciting and forward thinking idea to build a functional, accessible and inclusive facility instead of the smaller therapy pool currently proposed.”

She noted a new pool facility would allow Uxpool to remain open during construction, and thus have no impact on jobs or the club’s regular activities.

Mr. Briggs stated the changeroom, as proposed, “could become a bottleneck.”

“The current six lane pool already barely meets the requirements to host competitive events. Any changes to the pool or changes to requirements to host competitions would put us at risk to not host those competitions and we would not receive the economic benefit they bring,” he added.

He concluded by talking about the possibilities this current project represents.

“We believe we have a unique opportunity to shape the future of Uxbridge for generations to come and we’re excited to continue working with council and continue working with staff to do so.”

Mayor Dave Barton noted that the Township is currently applying for a grant for this project.

“There’s $200 million for the entire province,” he said. “This is not an easy grant to get, and we’re trying to keep this pool open.”

He also stated, being a smaller municipality in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) means the municipality is “under severe financial constraints all the time.”