Each year the Aquatic and Fitness Centre closes for two weeks for maintenance.
The last week of August and the first week of September are chosen due to the schedule change from summer hours to the fall hours and children returning to school.
Many facilities in the province also close at this time for the same reasons.
This year we have drained the pool to do repair work on tiles, water valves and the main drain at the bottom of the pool. We do not drain every year because it is very expensive to balance the pool water to the accepted standards set by Interior Health. Pool filtration and chemical systems are now so sophisticated that we rarely have a problem with an imbalance of water purity and swimmer comfort and safety.
The fitness room has been repainted, all the equipment removed, serviced and some replaced. We have purchased a new stair-climber and also two new stationary bikes.
The bikes will arrive in October and they will be equipped with a screen and Wi-Fi. These bikes are brand new to the fitness room world and we are excited that users will have wireless internet and the ability to check e-mail, Google and YouTube.
The sauna has new seats and benches and we have replaced broken tiles throughout the building. The tile in the showers, on the lobby floor and the pool deck take a daily beating.
The main water valve and pressure relief valve for the entire building had held for the past 36 years and needed to be replaced in the building. This project requires the water to be off for two days so plumbers can replace these essential valves.
I have talked about the big projects that were completed this shut down but this time also gives us the opportunity to clean and touch up areas that are used throughout the year.
Also at this time I’d like to give a huge thank you to the aquatic staff that take on the challenges of painting, building and repairing and hang up their swimsuits for a couple of weeks.
The Parks and Recreation office remains open during shutdown as we process fall program registrations and set fall/winter schedules for the arena, school gyms and other facilities.
Autumn is just around the corner!
Brenda Ingram is the Programs and Facilities Manager for the District of Summerland and proud to be a long-time resident of this great community.