One of Canada's largest outdoor pools in our backyard has stayed closed for four seasons, causing frustration among local families. The 1.8-acre pool in Bronte Provincial Park, located in the day-use area, remained a favourite summer spot to cool off, especially among families with young children.
"My toddlers are missing out on such a special experience and might not be interested to go back there once it reopens," an Oakville mom shared. The pool, shaped like a large pond, is designed for wading "with a starting depth of mere centimetres, gradually deepening to 2 m (6 ft) in the center."
For the unversed, Bronte Provincial Park pool is under the jurisdiction of Ontario Parks, which in turn is a branch of the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks in the province.
Ontario Parks' assistant program coordinator, Megan Birrell, confirmed the 35-year-old pool requires significant repairs.
"While the park is in the process of finalizing the details of the project for the pool repairs, Parks staff will continue to maintain the grassy areas around the pool while it is closed," she added.
In light of Ontario Parks' response, some parents worry if "it's not financially viable anymore" for them to reopen the pool.
"You've had four seasons to put this out to tender, get people to put in quotes to line them up in your schedule, let alone that maintenance," a regular visitor at the provincial park vented his frustration.
He added that the provincial park being "a custodian of a public good," has responsibility for maintaining the facilities. "So you've effectively not fulfilled your duty as a public servant to ensure that this maintains an operational standard."
Like several other residents with fond childhood memories of the pool, he recollected how his parents would take him and his siblings to the pool.
Some residents also feel that Ontario Parks' explanation needs to be more transparent. "We deserve to know the phase of work the project is in. Municipal pools can't be an alternative to this pool which is a jewel of the community and be treated so," a local mom added, suggesting that the community write to the local members of the provincial parliament to raise their concerns.
The park resides in MPP Stephen Crawford's Oakville riding and Oakville North-Burlington's MPP Effie Triantafilopoulos riding. It is under the jurisdiction of the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, David Piccini.
"A construction project of this size involves many steps, and we are working to keep this project moving forward," Birrell said, explaining the delay in reopening the pool.
Ontario Parks request its "valued customers continue to be patient as we are confident that the final product will meet the high standards our visitors have come to expect."