The petition looks to save the Spray and Play wading pool and calls for the installation of a new outdoor pool in Woodstock.
WOODSTOCK - A petition is making the rounds, looking to save two of Woodstock's outdoor aquatics facilities.
The Google Docs form calls for the preservation of the Spray and Play wading pool at the Southside Aquatics Centre, and the installation of a new outdoor pool.
City Council decided to decommission Lions Pool in July of 2023, and replace it with a brand new outdoor pool with a $5,350,000 price tag. However, City Council decided to backtrack in March of 2024, and put the new pool project on the back burner.
This upset a lot of people, including Susannah Wopereis. She grew up in the Friendly City and now lives here with her husband and two children. She was devastated when she discovered that the new outdoor pool wouldn't be installed anytime soon.
"I was upset about that, that me driving my family elsewhere for an outdoor pool wasn't temporary. That this could be forever that I'm driving to Brantford, Thamesford, or elsewhere to go swimming in an outdoor pool with them. So I decided that instead of just being angry while driving elsewhere, I should do something so I know I did all that I could to have an outdoor pool."
Wopereis decided to start a petition on Change.org calling for the installation of the new pool. She also decided to create a petition to save the Spray and Play wading pool at the Southside Aquatics Centre, after discovering that the city planned to close the facility.
In a statement to Heart FM, Mayor Jerry Acchione had this to say on the matter.
"The facility has reached the end of its life and a new splash pad is currently under construction across the street. Reports dating back more than 10 years have recommended eliminating the wading pool aspect as it reduces chemical water treatment and staffing costs and allows us to offer a free recreational opportunity for residents."
Wopereis says replacing it with a splash pad is not enough.
"It is going to have the dump bucket feature, but there is no wading pool or waterslides. So I just want to make it clear to the public that it is not a waterpark."
The petition to install a new outdoor pool had 451 supporters, while the petition for the Spray and Play wading pool received 1,136 supporters.
However, Wopereis met with Mayor Acchione and learned some important information.
"Just over a week ago, he let me know that the Change.org petitions might not be accepted for bringing forward to City Council, so we have to go a pivot and create a Google Docs petition. We're trying to move all of those signatures that we got on the original platform over to the Google Docs petition so we are really hoping that everyone, even those who signed the original Change.org petitions, that they sign again on the new petition."
The new petition covers both issues, and it includes a comment section where people can detail their thoughts. The Google Docs petition had approximately 400 responses as of Wednesday morning this week.
Wopereis will have the new petition on hand when she presents a delegation to Woodstock City Council on Thursday August 15th. The meeting will have a 7:00 p.m. start time, and she's hoping to pack Council Chambers with supporters.
Mayor Acchione encourages Woodstock residents to speak their minds when they have any comments or concerns.
"Ms. Wopereis has been in contact with staff and various members of Council to discuss our outdoor aquatic amenities. It's great to see members of the community who are passionate about ensuring Woodstock has amazing recreational amenities. We encourage public involvement in the decisions we make and look forward to receiving her delegation in August."
Wopereis says this is only the beginning.
"There is an endless list from wanting the YMCA pool reopened, wanting Pittock Reservoir to be safe for swimming, wanting the indoor pool at Southside Aquatic Centre to be able to host competitive swim meets, having a warm wading pool indoors for small children, and the list goes on! So we have decided to create a club, the Woodstock Public Swimmers Club, and we have a website where we have the petition and a membership form because we've decided that these two petitions are just the beginning. We want to advocate and improve the aquatics facilities in Woodstock and address other needs presented to us."
You can visit the Woodstock Public Swimmers Club website online here.
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