Aldergrove鈥檚 pools and hot tub reopened to swimmers last week 鈥� some of whom had been begging for its return in the five months since the COVID-19 shuttered 91原创 Township facilities in mid-March 鈥搃ncluding Aldergrove Credit Union Community Centre.

Re-opening was a challenging prospect, according to Township staff, who were concerned about a financial deficit that could grow if the pool re-opened during the pandemic.

鈥淭he pool is most expensive with overall staffing costs,鈥� Township administrator Mark Bakken explained to mayor and council during a late July council meeting.

But to many Aldergrove taxpayers, the Township鈥檚 estimated cost of $250,000 for the ACUCC pool to be open until the end of 2020 was worth the price if they could once again go for a swim.

Some of the costly COVID-19 changes include limiting swimmers to 40 to comply with current provincial health guidelines and closing pool areas between each 90-minute session to sanitize and clean before the next.

鈥淚f we remain closed, very limited expenses will be incurred,鈥� Bakken said.

But Township council voted for re-opening.

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Aldergrove resident Barry Smith, 68, hit the pool the first four mornings after reopening.

鈥淔or a senior like me, using the pool every morning is critical,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t provides relief for the pain in my spine and neck.鈥�

Daily aquatics is such an important part of Smith鈥檚 life that a month ago, he and another senior swimmer visited Township Mayor Jack Froese in an effort to persuade him to re-open the Aldergrove pool.

鈥淲e waited with bated breath,鈥� the senior recalled.

Formerly a Murrayville resident, Smith was part of a community of 30 or more seniors who swam every morning at W.C. Blair pool to maintain their level of fitness and soothe their aches.

鈥淚 find it a godsend,鈥� he said about the 22 years of low-impact workouts Township鈥檚 pools have offered.

Even though there were no clear lanes designated for guests to swim laps, Smith found a deep-end corner of the ACUCC鈥檚 25-metre pool where he got some steps in.

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What presented a struggle for the senior was his inability to use a senior recreation pass he bought to cover the cost of the swim sessions.

鈥淚t is hard to take with no income,鈥� Smith explained, as what normally costs around $1.50 per swim (with a monthly recreation pass) is currently more than $4 each use.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 more than double the cost,鈥� he added.

Another COVID-19 safety measure at the newly reopened Otter Co-op Outdoor Experience included the shuttering of change rooms and lockers.

Aldergrove pool guests had to come swim ready, in bathing suits, with towels in-hand, and were encouraged to leave their valuables at home before partaking in the pool.

Swimmers were instructed by pool staff to keep a two-metre distance from other users and refrain from touching their eyes or face.

Aldergrove resident Ariane Marcotte, who also took a dip in the pool, found the Township鈥檚 new social distancing procedures at the pools 鈥渨ell organized.鈥�

Local volunteer, Brit Gardner, spoke on behalf of others in the community, when she said: 鈥淲e are pleased our voices have been heard and the outdoor pool has been re-opened.鈥�

鈥淲e hope these precautions will allow for wider access to public recreation in the near future,鈥� she concluded.