Swan River Kinsmen Pool
 | |
| Location |
Swan River,  Manitoba,  Canada |
|---|---|
| Owner | Town of Swan River |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1973 |
| Architect | Hans Peter Langes |
The Swan River Kinsmen Pool is an outdoor jr. olympic sized swimming pool located in Swan River, Manitoba. In 2013 it celebrated its 40th anniversary. It will be closed permanently in September 2013 in anticipation of the sate-of-the art Swan Valley Credit Union Aquatics Centre's opening within the Richardson Recreation and Wellness Centre.
Facility
The pool itself measures 15 meters wide by 25 meters long. It has six swimming lanes, and a diving board. Chlorine is used to sanitize the pool water. The pool's water capacity is 640,000 litres, and can be used by up to 120 patrons at one time. Water depth varies from 3 ft in the shallow end, 5 ft in the middle, 10 ft at the pool's deepest part, and 8 ft at the far edge of the deep end. It is heated to a temperature of 81°F by two natural gas heaters. There is also a kiddie pool adjacent to the main swimming tank which is unheated. In addition, the facility includes men's and women's change rooms, as well as a lifeguard office and maintenance room. These indoor areas are connected to the Swan River Centennial Arena. The pool change rooms double as hockey dressing rooms during the pool's off-season.
Programming
The Kinsmen Pool regularly runs the following programs: public swimming, adult lane swim, Red Cross Swim Preschool, Red Cross Swim Kids, adult swimming lessons, and aquasizes. Additionally, is utilized by the local swim club, and may be rented by school groups and for pool parties. Where there is demand, lifesaving courses are also run out of the Kinsmen Pool. The pool is staffed with two lifeguards during most programs, and four during public swimming times. Lifeguards perform most of the duties relating to day-to-day pool operations, including cleaning, groundskeeping, helping patrons pay for and register for programs, and maintaining proper pool chemistry.
Decommissioning
In the early 2000s the pool's condition began to deteriorate, and it was clear that either major work would need to be done, or a new pool would need to be built. Much of the pool equipment is still the original from 1973. The concrete pool deck has begun to break up, and many tiles from the top perimeter of the pool tank have fallen off. The solution to these problems was the subject of much intense debate in the town of Swan River for the better part of that decade, and even into the 2010s. In the end a brand-new indoor swimming pool was the answer. On March 26, 2012,[1] the official sod-turning ceremony took place for the Swan Valley Credit Union Aquatics Centre, which is phase one of the Richardson Recreation and Wellness Centre. Following the 2013 swimming season, the now-obsolete Swan River Kinsmen Pool will be decommissioned, while the indoor areas will continue to be used as part of the Centennial Arena into the foreseeable future.
Events
The pool was the venue for swimming events during the 2012 PowerSmart Manitoba Summer Games.