Usage continues to go up at Carbonear pool

By Olivia Bradbury / Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

The statistics on the number of people using the Carbonear swimming pool are continuing to show an increase, according to Recreation Director Rob Button, who briefed council on the numbers recently.
“With regards to our pool revenue and visitations, as you can see we’re well ahead of last year from this point,” said Button. “Our revenue is approximately $14,000 more at this point. (In terms of) registration, we’re nearing one hundred extra participants, as well as 1,200 extra visits to our public swims.”
Button said he was optimistic that upward trend will continue.
The pool also recently hosted the St. John’s Legends’ spring swim meet.
“It’s great to bring another meet here for this year that we don’t really have to get too involved in as someone else is running it so we can kind of enjoy it,” said Button.
The Tri-Con Special Olympics will host its invitational meet at the pool on May 4.
Carbonear has also received funding through the Sport and Recreation Access Fund that will allow it to provide free public access to the pool. Free access will be on Fridays from May 16 to August 8. It will include the therapeutic lane swim which runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:20 p.m., a water aerobics program that runs from 1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., and a public swim that runs from 7:00 p.m. to 7:50 p.m.
“We picked Fridays because we kind of got the full demographic, from our older adults to our children, and some exercise programs,” said Button. “So we felt Fridays were a good fit for this funding to offer free access to anyone who wants to avail of these swims.”