Township seeks grant to build new Uxpool

An overhead view of Uxpool during an Uxbridge Swim Club meet warm-up session. Cosmos file photo

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

In a report to council on Monday, Amanda Ferraro, director of community services, recommended that the township allow Uxpool to seek an Ontario government grant to either refurbish the existing facility or tear it down and build a new one.

Ferraro said there are two options: repair or renovate the current building and add a learn-to-swim and therapy tank, or demolish the old building and build something called a Myrtha/Sprung structure. A Myrtha/Sprung facility would include an 8x25-metre pool and a 10x15-metre therapy and teaching pool.

Ferraro's report said the first option would cost between $15 million and $16 million, while the second option would cost about $12 million to $14 million. The province's Community Sport and Recreation Infrastructure Fund (CSRIF) provides grants up to $10 million, but recipients of grants must pay for 50 per cent of the costs.

After Mayor Dave Barton said he preferred the second option, council supported Ferraro's recommendation that Uxpool seek a grant toward the second option, meaning that if the grant application is successful, Uxbridge would have to commit between $6 million and $7 million to the project