Pool will be built at old arena site

A new outdoor swimming pool facility will be built next to West Middlesex Memorial Centre at the corner of Metcalfe St. W. and Park St. in Strathroy.

Council chose this location over a proposed site in Alexandra Park where the Scout House currently stands. The pool will be built using the $4 million in funding provided by the province for an aquatic recreation project. The funding had originally been slated to help pay for a larger indoor swimming pool facility, but council decided in September the municipality could not afford to go ahead with the indoor pool.

The location beside the old arena was selected because of concerns at the Alexandra Park site involving soil quality, parking, the size of the location, which would prevent any future expansion, and the fate of the existing Scout House, which would have had to be removed to make way for the pool. None of these concerns exist at the old arena site. The pool will enhance the site by adding another recreation facility to the existing mix, which includes the arena, tennis courts, ball diamonds, and a paddock for horse shows.

The outdoor pool project is scheduled to be completed by spring 2014.