Recreational facility upgrades ongoing during shutdown

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

While Strathmore’s recreational facilities are shut down due to COVID-19, town staff have been working to improve them.

Upgrades, maintenance and repair at the town’s Family Centre and Aquatic Centre have been underway while the rinks are free of ice and the pool is drained.

While the facility shutdown has been a drag for Strathmore’s residents, it has helped the town schedule the work and allowed time to incorporate the feedback from a safety audit performed earlier in the year, said Natasha Barron, Aquatic Centre manager.

“We’re going to totally take advantage of this opportunity – hopefully we never have this opportunity again – but to really dive into that feedback and take a look at all of the recommendations, do all of the changes that are feasible and we want to do,” she said.

The shutdown also has allowed the town to update its procedure manuals, orientation, and training, which are required because of the upgrades. 

“We’re grateful to have the time to do that,” said Barron.

Within the Aquatic Centre, the installation of new boilers is planned. The boilers are currently on order and are expected to arrive in four to six weeks. The pool sand filter and change room sinks have also been cleaned. The hot tub and kiddie pool have also received upgrades – the kiddie pool was completely re-grouted and tiles were repaired throughout each.

After receiving a recommendation from the Lifesaving Society after a facility audit performed in January, new deadbolts were installed on the pool deck doors to better secure the pool deck.

Another safety improvement is the addition of rope anchors in the lap pool at the 1.2 metre depth marker to better differentiate the shallow end of the lap pool from the deeper portion. The anchors allow for the installation of a width rope, “just so the kids can see where it starts to get deeper,” said Barron.

The waterslide is going to be a smoother ride than ever – and getting to it will be safer. The slide surface was examined for scratches, chips and cracks in the gel coat, and all scuffing, build up and old caulking were removed. Then, the entire waterslide was power buffed and waxed. The water slide stairs will be sandblasted and painted, with a grit additive to make the surface less slippery.

Most of the improvements to the Aquatic Centre were planned for fall, according to town administration, except for the waterslide stair maintenance. That means that a previously planned shut down for the fall is no longer required. Once the provincial government allows aquatic centres to reopen, the pool will be ready for use.

Under Alberta’s relaunch strategy, the opening of pools, recreation centres and arenas is scheduled for Stage 3, the date of which remains to be determined.

The work to the Family Centre was included in the town’s current 2020 operating and capital budgets, with an estimated cost of $15,000. About $17,000 has been spent on the Aquatic Centre upgrades, according to the town.

The Family Centre is also seeing its share of upgrades. These were already scheduled for the summer before the COVID-19 shutdown, but having the facility closed has “allowed for easier coordination,” according to a statement from town administration.

One of the major upgrades to the Family Centre is the replacement of the arena’s hot water unit, said Craig Dilts, Family Centre manager.

“We heat our water to 150 degrees normally, and that’s what people see when the machines are driving around on the ice,” explained Dilts. “The hot water unit that is used to heat the ice-making water is being replaced as a capital upgrade, which will make for a more efficient system.”

This tankless system could save costs long term, he said. “It’s going to provide significant savings, because its only point of use is when we need the hot water it will turn on, and when we don’t, it will turn off.”

The arena upgrades also include plans for a new dehumidifier, a rooftop HVAC unit and new unit heaters in the arenas. Also, work is ongoing to repair the boards in the northwest quadrant of the blue rink.

“One of the problems we had during the year was the board system was so poor it had a major slant to it,” said Dilts. “We’ve now got that corrected.”

The boards were dismantled for welding and other work to repair the metal framing and foundation. Richdale Welding installed 28 new posts, which are “all perfectly level,” according to a statement by the town. Reassembly of the plywood, plastic and glass is underway.

The lobby of the Family Centre now boasts a new coat of paint and the display cases have been moved to a more prominent location. The dressing rooms have also been painted, thanks to 50 gallons of paint provided by Home Hardware. The facility has also been cleaned, including waxing of the main stairs and concession floors.

New stalls have been installed in the blue official’s room to provide the facility with more versatility for all types of ice users. 

“One of the things we would run into is not enough space for people to change,” said Dilts. “We’re seeing a lot more kids, but not only that, we’re seeing a lot more diversity, a lot more women in a lot of these groups.”

The stalls create more options, he said. “We’re not making the facility bigger right now, but we are just trying to be strategic with the spaces we have and just be more multifunctional.”