Paris pool two-phase project approaches completion
Sierra Construction from Woodstock builds new changeroom structure
By
Mark Schadenberg
PARIS
– As a long-time member of the Woodstock Recreation Advisory
Committee, I read this story with interest as our city will soon have
to replace the 65-year-old (approximately) Lions Pool on VanSittart
Avenue.
For
several years, the outdoor in-ground Lions Pool has been held
together with duct tape and ingenuity, but just down the road in
Brant County, the town of Paris is preparing to debut its brand new
pool complex, which was re-built in two stages.
The
total price tag was $1.6 million.
State-of-the-art
features include a heating system that can rely upon solar energy. (See: Picture below from about 4 weeks ago)
Interesting
to note that Sierra Construction (www.sierraconstruction.ca) of
Woodstock is the main contractor for the building (dressing rooms,
etc) itself.
Dollars
have been donated to a fundraising committee (www.parispool.ca)
and continue to be donated to fully complete this project.
The
latest Brantford Expositor story, which was published last month,
noted that the dreadful winter we had in southern Ontario caused
delays, which in-turn resulted in a race against the clock for
government funding timetables.
The
key to the pool's design is that there is a ground-level entry point
for toddlers and physically challenged to use – as if you're at a
beach.
LINKS
2012
Story:
PARIS
- After four hot summers without an outdoor pool, Brant County
swimmers will be able to cool off this weekend in the new Paris
Community Pool.
The
$1.6-million pool opens on Canada Day.
On
Friday, a group, including Brant politicians and members of the
media, toured the facility.
"We
are very excited," said Coun. Shirley Simons, who chairs the
pool's building committee. "This is a very nice moment in the
county. It turned out beautiful. I am thrilled."
The
new pool replaces one that had been used for 54 years and closed in
2008 when it was discovered that it had a significant leaking
problem.
The
new pool is 35% bigger, has four 25-metre swimming lanes, an improved
design for swimming lessons and a new mechanical building that will
serve both the pool and adjoining splash pad.
The
pool now will accommodate a maximum of 240 patrons, up from 175.
Other
features include beachfront entry accessible to all, a tots' play
area, diving board and slide, a sun shelter and sitting area.
The
modern mechanical building includes a machine that automatically
feeds chemicals into the pool, and a system that conserves heat and
reduces energy costs.
Meanwhile,
Simons said a $500,000 fundraising campaign is underway to help pay
for the project. Letters have gone out to local businesses asking for
contributions. Simons said about $40,000 has been collected over the
past few months.
"I'm
confident we're going to come close," Simons said of the
fundraising goal. "There are a lot of businesses that are
excited about this."
Stacey
Ellins, recreation co-ordinator for Brant County, said pool staff
worked hard to give a facelift to the 55-year-old building that
houses the change rooms and pool office. The hope is that the
building can be replaced sometime in the future.
AUGUST
2013 Story:
The
second and final phase of the Paris Community Pool's complete renewal
has received nearly unanimous approval from County of Brant council
members.
Council
voted 9-1 in favour of approving a recommendation from the community
services department to accept a $1-million bid from by Sierra
Construction Ltd. of Woodstock.
Sierra
will be constructing a new main building, including public washrooms,
change rooms, an accessible family change room, a front-end addition
for a more accessible and efficient staff office, additional storage
space for program and facility supplies, non-slip flooring and more
accessible features.
A
staff report said the county has worked with Sierra successfully on
several other projects.
The
last pool at the site in Lions Park was shut down in 2008 for safety
reasons.
Paris
Community Pool building committee chair and Ward 2 councillor Shirley
Simons was excited to report that the project would move ahead
immediately now that it has been approved.
"We
got the pool approved," she said outside the municipal offices
in Paris on Wednesday. "I'm very pleased."
Sierra
beat out only one other qualified, but higher bid from STM
Construction of $1.5 million. Five others were submitted, but failed
to enclose a "bid security" in the form of a certified
cheque.
Nearly
half of the building costs will be covered by a federal Community
Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) grant of $475,000, but Simons
said the work must be completed by the end of March 2014 to ensure
the funding comes through.
The
pool building committee is also waiting to hear if a provincial
Trillium Foundation grant of $125,000 and an Agri-Spirit grant of
$10,000 will become realities. Simons said the news is for both
grants is expected in November.
If
the committee is successful in securing the Trillium grant, $14,000
will be added to the budget for the construction of accessibility
components necessary to quality for the grant.
Less
than $400,000 of the project cost will be financed through long-term
debt at a low interest rate, according to Simons.
Sierra's
original bid was $1,162,305, but county staff found cost savings by
eliminating the built-in bench along the covered entry walkway,
making the main gate chain link instead of galvanized steel grating,
using laminated glass for the windows instead of tempered glass with
safety film, eliminating a pipe chase and changing the plumbing to
approved polyethylene instead of copper and cast iron.
The
Paris Pool fundraising committee of residents working with the
building committee have raised $62,000 of their $250,000 goal for the
new building.
To
volunteer or or donate to the pool, call Thecla Ross at 519-774-2050.
Pledge
cards for the pool project can be picked up at any County of Brant
office and at the Brant Sports Complex on Rest Acres Road in Paris.
Mark
Schadenberg, Sales
Representative
Senior
Real Estate Specialist (SRES designation)
Royal
LePage Triland Realty
757
Dundas St, Woodstock
www.wesellwoodstock.com
(519)
537-1553, cell or text
Email:
mschadenberg@rogers.com
Twitter:
markroyallepage
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