Recreation - Aquatic Space Repurposing

What is the Vernon Aquatic Centre Repurposing Study?

With the construction of the new Active Living Centre is underway including a new pool, the City of Vernon is planning ahead and wants to learn how the community would like to see the existing Vernon Aquatic Centre repurposed. Together with input from industry consultants, architects, and engineers to assess the existing space, public feedback will help shape how the Vernon Aquatic Centre interior space could be repurposed to meet community needs and ensure it provides necessary space for current and future services, programs, or activities.

Why is this happening?

The 2018

What is the Vernon Aquatic Centre Repurposing Study?

With the construction of the new Active Living Centre is underway including a new pool, the City of Vernon is planning ahead and wants to learn how the community would like to see the existing Vernon Aquatic Centre repurposed. Together with input from industry consultants, architects, and engineers to assess the existing space, public feedback will help shape how the Vernon Aquatic Centre interior space could be repurposed to meet community needs and ensure it provides necessary space for current and future services, programs, or activities.

Why is this happening?

The 2018 Recreation Master Plan and the 2020 Active Living Centre Feasibility Study Report identified that an additional study to determine how best to repurpose the existing Vernon Aquatic Centre and recreation site would be required. The Vernon Aquatic Centre Repurposing Strategy is also identified as a key priority for 2024-2025 in the City of Vernon 2023-2026 Strategic Plan.

Who is conducting the study?

In early July 2024, the City retained Innovate Planning & Co., an independent consulting firm, together with Station One Architects, Step Up Consulting, and The W Group to:

  • consult with interested parties (including staff) to gain insight into the community and user
  • group space needs;
  • identify potential synergies or conflicts with neighbouring facilities;
  • identify risks related to the renovation;
  • review possible operating models;
  • create three (3) options for repurposing the existing aquatic centre based on consultation and research to present to the Council; and
  • prepare a preliminary high-level cost estimate based on three (3) recommended concept plans.

Project Objectives

The project was designed to satisfy 6 key objectives for the community of Vernon.


Success For This Project is Based On:

  • Robust community engagement.
  • Development of three (3) high-level concept designs, with costing, for next step options for repurposing the Aquatic Centre space, based on community feedback, risk assessment, and industry research.

What are the expected outcomes?

Success for this project is based on:

  • Robust community engagement.
  • Development of three (3) high-level concept designs, with costing, for next step options for repurposing the Aquatic Centre space, based on community feedback, risk assessment, and industry research.

Community Engagement

From August 22 to September 25th, 2024, the project team completed the data gathering and engagement with community groups, users and interested parties. The process allowed the project team to:

  • inform residents, user groups, and organizations about the project;
  • engage the community for ideas;
  • gain insight into the community and user group space needs; and
  • identify potential synergies or conflicts with neighbouring facilities.

The findings from the surveys, focus groups, local pop-up events and municipal research were presented to City of Vernon Council on October 7, 2024. A summary of the findings is below.


There was extensive community engagement completed to support this project.





The following image shows the overall Recreation Complex and where the Aquatics Centre (1) is in relation to all other buildings and feedback received regarding site synergies and challenges.



Focus Group and Pop Up Top 5 Suggestions

The following are the Top 5 suggestions gathered from the 48 Focus Groups held with community groups, users, and interested parties and the 3 Pop Up events with more than 150 participants.



Community-Wide Survey Top 5 Suggestions

The following shows the Top 5 suggestions gathered from the community-wide survey consisting of 1075 respondents.



Timeline

The timeline below shows that the Public Consultation is completed with the findings from the Needs Analysis ready for Council's consideration and comment.Staff look forward to presenting the concept designs to Council in early 2025.

Thank you for your continued interest in the Vernon Aquatic Centre Repurposing Study.

Page last updated: 02 Jan 2025, 07:47 AM