The Nanaimo Aquatic Centre is slated to re-open on Sept. 9, ending a more than six month closure due to COVID-19 risks. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

indoor recreation

Re-opening dates set for Nanaimo Aquatic Centre and indoor rec facilities

Jul 27, 2020 | 3:33 PM

NANAIMO — Several community recreation facilities closed since mid-March are scheduled to re-open soon.

Nanaimo councillors unanimously endorsed re-opening the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre, Oliver Woods Community Centre, Beban Park Social Centre and Bowen Park Complex on either Sept. 9 or 10.

All of the facilities will have scaled down program offerings to help slow the spread of COVID-19, most notably a ban on crowds more than 50 people.

The City’s director of recreation and culture Lynn Wark said the heavily-used Nanaimo Aquatic Centre is slated to re-open on Sept. 10.

The facility’s saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs will remain closed, while the weight room will re-open.

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The Beban Park Pool will remain closed indefinitely, with the City evaluating demand and the cost benefit in the months ahead.

Neighbouring Beban Park Social Centre will have a modified re-opening, as will the Oliver Woods Community Centre and the Bowen Park Complex.

Wark said there are many benefits to providing a safe environment for recreation as programming transitions from outdoor to indoor.

“We can give them good mental, physical and emotional health, get them socializing a bit more again all under COVID protocols,” Wark told councillors at special council meeting on Monday, July 27.

Roughly $1 million is projected to be saved by Nanaimo taxpayers in 2020 by having both money-draining indoor pools closed for extended periods this year, Wark said.

The City’s CAO Jake Rudolph said much is unknown about how their indoor rec facilities will operate over the next several months.

“There will have to be further conversation later in the fall about ‘What are we doing next year?’”

The Nanaimo Ice Centre’s second ice sheet welcomed users again Monday, July 27 after being closed since mid-March to lead the City’s phased re-opening of arenas.

ian@nanaimonewsnow.com
On Twitter: @reporterholmes