QE 2 Pool II?

JayBee · 04-01-2008, 04:09 AM

New plan proposed for QE pool
Susan Ruttan, edmontonjournal.com
Published: Thursday, January 03

EDMONTON - The Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool should be replaced with a new outdoor pool next to the Kinsmen Sports Centre, city staff are recommending.

A new report proposes giving up plans to redevelop the existing pool, which was built in 1922 and closed in 2004 due to a major crack in the pool tank. The current site on the riverbank is a problem because of erosion of the slope, and, potentially, construction of a new bridge near the site, connecting Gateway Boulevard to downtown, the report said.

...

So instead, city administrators say, a new outdoor pool should be built next to the Kinsmen centre, which houses an indoor Olympic-size pool.

The president of the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Pool Society, John Stobbe, is happy with the new plan.

"This actually could be a very, very exciting opportunity," Stobbe said.

...

sruttan@thejournal.canwest.com

Full Article:
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...9a0167&k=96478

JayBee · 04-01-2008, 05:01 AM

I'm all for this. Of course the old location in the forest was pure magic, but they have a better chance of making this good than sticking with the old one.

- fundraising support from the Kinsmen?
- a geologically stable location.
- obvious operation synergy with Kinsmen pool, for the pool itself, as well as other support infrastructure (like parking).
- Waterfall view? (We still need a way to get that switched on more often.)
- Better access, higher profile.

Just make sure they plant some trees around it to keep the wind to a minimum.

lux · 04-01-2008, 06:47 AM

Nope. We need the "pure magic" location.

moahunter · 04-01-2008, 10:19 AM

I think it's a waste for a couple of months each year. Seems to me that many people have some quaint nostaligia for public outdoor pools when they were a kid, the way it used to be, riding the bike (unsupervised) to the local pool.

But most kids today won't be riding bikes unsupervised, and their parents would rather sit inside with coffee and donuts. Kids would rather be inside swimming year round too, instead of for a couple of months at a location, that teens will probably only vandalize in some drunken night time party.

If people want the outdoor thing, do it properly at a lake, or a holiday somewhere. Spend the money on sending kids from a poor neighborhood to a real camp. We don't need to recreate the unsustainable in the city, for the geriatirc few who get a kick out of nostalgia for a "better" time when people couldn't afford to holiday outside the city.

Just IMO though...

In saying that - there might be a demand for an artificial hot spring - perhaps using clean geothermal heat, that might be an interesting destination for the parents and aging population as well (sooth away the arthritis), year round...

highlander · 04-01-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moahunter

I think it's a waste for a couple of months each year. Seems to me that many people have some quaint nostaligia for public outdoor pools when they were a kid, the way it used to be, riding the bike (unsupervised) to the local pool.

In saying that - there might be a demand for an artificial hot spring - perhaps using clean geothermal heat, that might be an interesting destination for the parents and aging population as well (sooth away the arthritis), year round...

Biking to the outdoor pool almost every day all summer was a way of life for me just 15 short years ago.

I love the year round artificial hot spring idea. Indoor hot tubs suck, and there is nothing better than sitting in a hot tub when it's -15c.

LindseyT · 04-01-2008, 10:58 AM

a heated pool open all year would be fantastic.

bobinedmonton · 04-01-2008, 11:32 AM

... there will be an indoor entrance to the pool, so you can wade outside in the heated water, therefore you can use the pool year round! Wouldn't THAT be nice!

Already in place: Hotel Bonaventure, Montreal (similar climate) in place since 1967!

IanO · 04-01-2008, 11:44 AM

while $ is always an issue...i really wish they had done an indoor/outdoor pool on the current site and made it a year round attraction. HUGE opportunity lost IMO. Imagine for a second a banff hot springs kinda thing on that site overlooking the downtown core.....oh right, we dont like to do things that are unique and interesting here:<

however with that said...if it takes a move to kinsmen to make it happen, DO IT.

we dont have enough things to do here in summer for that kind of activity.

JayBee · 04-01-2008, 08:16 PM

With respect to keeping the "pure magic" of the old location:

First off, I see no reason the Kinsmen site couldn't provide "pure magic" of its own. Likely it'll be a different flavour, but there is utterly fantastic potential there, and none of the concern about stabilising the riverbank that the current location endures.

Secondly, I don't like "pure magic"'s chances with the new Gateway bridge on the horizon. No matter how much we try to "Banff" it, a major traffic artery is going to have an impact. (Unless we've actually got the nerve to go bank to bank, of course. Swing that, and the old magic may indeed be back in business.)

Kinsmen has a different potential than a secluded pool hidden in the forests, but it still has unbelievable potential. It debatably has even more. We just have to make sure that we put all the effort in that we can, not cut corners, and we'll have a full-on coup on our hands.

As for winter city outdoor swimming: costly to heat, but just imagine something Banffy down there, but with an insulated retractable cover for off-hours. Ouch. Who wouldn't be there for a nice laugh at the snow falling into the steam after work? With a glass tunnel to an exhilarating work-out in the current complex? I can't stop.

kcantor · 05-01-2008, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JayBee

...
As for winter city outdoor swimming: costly to heat, but just imagine something Banffy down there, but with an insulated retractable cover for off-hours. Ouch. Who wouldn't be there for a nice laugh at the snow falling into the steam after work? With a glass tunnel to an exhilarating work-out in the current complex? I can't stop.

what about a smaller scale edmonton version of iceland's blue lagoon? entirely artificial and based on geothermal...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Lagoon_(geothermal_spa)

JayBee · 06-01-2008, 03:05 AM

That's sortof what I hope they would do, for at least part of it (perhaps in addition to a more traditional "swimming" pool like the one it is supposedly replacing). But in Iceland's context, "geothermal" means "hot springs", not "heat pumps" like it would in Edmonton. I.e., they get their hot water completely free.

Doing it with electricity, I don't see any way we could justify anything even a quarter that size. Frankly, I was thinking something more like about the Upper Hot Springs size in Banff, or Miette in Jasper. Maybe a tad bigger, and if they want to dress it up more, that'd be okay with me too. But still, high-level view (not bad, even without the waterfall), legislature view (for what it's worth, I'd say destroy the Annex in a second, and replace it with trees, but not only for the sake of a hot spring of course), and the regular splendour of the trees and landscape in all seasons, even if smaller than the Blue Lagoon, I think it could take a very big place in the hearts of a lot of people.

View Poll Results: "Move" the pool beside Kinsmen Sports Centre?
Pure brilliance, make it happen.	14	73.68%
Nice, but not a priority right now.	0	0%
Wouldn't use it but no biggie.	1	5.26%
An outdoor pool in a winter city? Waste of time, money, breath, water, etc...	4	21.05%
Voters: 19. You may not vote on this poll

04-01-2008, 04:09 AM	#1
JayBee Addicted to C2E Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Flux	QE 2 Pool II? New plan proposed for QE pool Susan Ruttan, edmontonjournal.com Published: Thursday, January 03 EDMONTON - The Queen Elizabeth Outdoor Pool should be replaced with a new outdoor pool next to the Kinsmen Sports Centre, city staff are recommending. A new report proposes giving up plans to redevelop the existing pool, which was built in 1922 and closed in 2004 due to a major crack in the pool tank. The current site on the riverbank is a problem because of erosion of the slope, and, potentially, construction of a new bridge near the site, connecting Gateway Boulevard to downtown, the report said. ... So instead, city administrators say, a new outdoor pool should be built next to the Kinsmen centre, which houses an indoor Olympic-size pool. The president of the Friends of Queen Elizabeth Pool Society, John Stobbe, is happy with the new plan. "This actually could be a very, very exciting opportunity," Stobbe said. ... sruttan@thejournal.canwest.com Full Article: http://www.canada.com/edmontonjourna...9a0167&k=96478

04-01-2008, 06:47 AM	#3
lux Addicted to C2E Join Date: Jun 2006	Nope. We need the "pure magic" location. __________________ City Centre Airport is to the sky as False Creek is to the ocean.

04-01-2008, 10:58 AM	#6
LindseyT Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: City Of Champions	a heated pool open all year would be fantastic. __________________ "the best social program is a job"

04-01-2008, 11:32 AM	#7
bobinedmonton Addicted to C2E Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	If it's built like the resorts ... ... there will be an indoor entrance to the pool, so you can wade outside in the heated water, therefore you can use the pool year round! Wouldn't THAT be nice! Already in place: Hotel Bonaventure, Montreal (similar climate) in place since 1967!

04-01-2008, 05:01 AM	#2
JayBee Addicted to C2E Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Flux	I'm all for this. Of course the old location in the forest was pure magic, but they have a better chance of making this good than sticking with the old one. - fundraising support from the Kinsmen? - a geologically stable location. - obvious operation synergy with Kinsmen pool, for the pool itself, as well as other support infrastructure (like parking). - Waterfall view? (We still need a way to get that switched on more often.) - Better access, higher profile. Just make sure they plant some trees around it to keep the wind to a minimum.

04-01-2008, 10:19 AM	#4
moahunter Addicted to C2E Join Date: May 2007 Location: Edmonton, Alberta	I think it's a waste for a couple of months each year. Seems to me that many people have some quaint nostaligia for public outdoor pools when they were a kid, the way it used to be, riding the bike (unsupervised) to the local pool. But most kids today won't be riding bikes unsupervised, and their parents would rather sit inside with coffee and donuts. Kids would rather be inside swimming year round too, instead of for a couple of months at a location, that teens will probably only vandalize in some drunken night time party. If people want the outdoor thing, do it properly at a lake, or a holiday somewhere. Spend the money on sending kids from a poor neighborhood to a real camp. We don't need to recreate the unsustainable in the city, for the geriatirc few who get a kick out of nostalgia for a "better" time when people couldn't afford to holiday outside the city. Just IMO though... In saying that - there might be a demand for an artificial hot spring - perhaps using clean geothermal heat, that might be an interesting destination for the parents and aging population as well (sooth away the arthritis), year round...

04-01-2008, 11:44 AM	#8
IanO Addicted to C2E Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edmonton	while $ is always an issue...i really wish they had done an indoor/outdoor pool on the current site and made it a year round attraction. HUGE opportunity lost IMO. Imagine for a second a banff hot springs kinda thing on that site overlooking the downtown core.....oh right, we dont like to do things that are unique and interesting here:< however with that said...if it takes a move to kinsmen to make it happen, DO IT. we dont have enough things to do here in summer for that kind of activity. __________________ inspiration or mediocrity www.decl.org Ottawa-Edmonton-Vancouver-Edmonton

04-01-2008, 08:16 PM	#9
JayBee Addicted to C2E Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Flux	With respect to keeping the "pure magic" of the old location: First off, I see no reason the Kinsmen site couldn't provide "pure magic" of its own. Likely it'll be a different flavour, but there is utterly fantastic potential there, and none of the concern about stabilising the riverbank that the current location endures. Secondly, I don't like "pure magic"'s chances with the new Gateway bridge on the horizon. No matter how much we try to "Banff" it, a major traffic artery is going to have an impact. (Unless we've actually got the nerve to go bank to bank, of course. Swing that, and the old magic may indeed be back in business.) Kinsmen has a different potential than a secluded pool hidden in the forests, but it still has unbelievable potential. It debatably has even more. We just have to make sure that we put all the effort in that we can, not cut corners, and we'll have a full-on coup on our hands. As for winter city outdoor swimming: costly to heat, but just imagine something Banffy down there, but with an insulated retractable cover for off-hours. Ouch. Who wouldn't be there for a nice laugh at the snow falling into the steam after work? With a glass tunnel to an exhilarating work-out in the current complex? I can't stop.

06-01-2008, 03:05 AM	#11
JayBee Addicted to C2E Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Flux	That's sortof what I hope they would do, for at least part of it (perhaps in addition to a more traditional "swimming" pool like the one it is supposedly replacing). But in Iceland's context, "geothermal" means "hot springs", not "heat pumps" like it would in Edmonton. I.e., they get their hot water completely free. Doing it with electricity, I don't see any way we could justify anything even a quarter that size. Frankly, I was thinking something more like about the Upper Hot Springs size in Banff, or Miette in Jasper. Maybe a tad bigger, and if they want to dress it up more, that'd be okay with me too. But still, high-level view (not bad, even without the waterfall), legislature view (for what it's worth, I'd say destroy the Annex in a second, and replace it with trees, but not only for the sake of a hot spring of course), and the regular splendour of the trees and landscape in all seasons, even if smaller than the Blue Lagoon, I think it could take a very big place in the hearts of a lot of people.