YMCA plans cut new pool

By Michael Gorman

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Major changes are in store for the YMCA’s redevelopment plan.

The YMCA’s request for $3 million was turned down by the Build Canada fund, meaning the proposed $9 million redevelopment of the Main Street location, which included a major aquatics centre, will not go ahead. Instead, the Y has put forward a $1 million request to a recreational fund administered by ACOA.

The Y’s new plan calls for a $3 million retrofit — if the federal request is approved, the Y would ask for $1 million from the province and raise $1 million locally.

Barrie MacGregor of the YCMA said the new plan would see many of the changes under the original plans remain, with the notable exception of the aquatics centre.

Instead of a new aquatics centre, the Y would keep the existing pool in operation. It would also mean the present gym space would be expanded and empty. One advantage to the new plan is that MacGregor believes it is possible to do much of the work without having the shutdown the building for much, if any, time. “We would minimize the closing time,” he said, adding that with three entrances to the building there are ways to stay open while avoiding construction work as long as it is safe to do so.

Mayor Phil Mooney would not comment on the Y’s new plan because he hasn’t seen it yet. However, he said, since the Y started talking about removing the aquatics centre from its plan there has be preliminary talk with West Nova MP Greg Kerr about a second phase that could eventually see the creation of a new pool.

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