Paradise pool study bid comes in a hair under budget

By Mark Squibb

Paradise council has moved to officially award a tender for a swimming pool feasibility study.
“In 2024, the Town of Paradise introduced ‘Our Paradise 2027 Strategic Plan,” said councillor Patrick Martin during the May 29 public meeting. “Within the plan, the Town acknowledged that residents had identified the need for a pool and committed to completing a feasibility study for a municipal swimming pool in 2025.”
The request for proposals closed on April 28, and the Town received five proposals. Staff evaluated the bids and awarded Stantec Consulting the highest score.
Council voted unanimously to award the feasibility study contract to Stantec in the amount of $74,897, HST included, a bid that came in just dollars below the $75,000 threshold the Town had budgeted for the study.
“We’ve all had great discussions over the years on the possibility of having a pool in Paradise,” said Martin. “We’ll get this back and have a look and see if a pool in Paradise is actually needed and, if it’s needed, what we can do to accommodate residents. But it’s going to be great to have all the feedback and everything in front of us so we can review it.”
When discussing the matter during a committee meeting last month, Mayor Dan Bobbett noted that should the Town commit to building a pool, it would likely need to secure government funding to do so.
Others, such as Deputy Mayor Kimberley Street and councillor Glen Carew, added that a portion of the cost of constructing and maintaining a swimming pool would fall on residents.