Willoughby residents got their first look at the area鈥檚 first community centre, and to comment on its pool, rec centre, and library design.

91原创 Township plans to build the new facility next to the Tennis Centre, around the 20700 block of 80 Avenue.

The current proposed plan 鈥� which is open to review by the council 鈥� is to include indoor rec facilities, a 37.5 metre pool, community spaces such as meeting rooms, and a library.

At the Thursday, May 23 open house, held at Yorkson Middle School, participants were asked to put Post-it notes on boards with comments or suggestions.

People left a plethora of comments on the boards, with suggestions of all kinds.

For indoor activities, everything from pickleball courts to racquet ball to five-a-side futsal to space for a cheer team was requested.

In outdoors paces, a rock climbing wall, playground, farmers market, and from one visitor, 鈥渘o skateboard park!鈥� were among the notes.

For community spaces, meeting rooms, drop-in bridge games, a cozy caf茅, and a daycare were among the ideas.

Suggestions for the library included a big story time room, space for STEM activities for kids, and a number that simply called for more books and a bigger collection.

One of the most active boards was for the pool, where a number of users asked for it to be a full 50m pool, like Walnut Grove Recreation Centre鈥檚 pool.

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Representatives of local swim and aquatic sports clubs attended to get their message across to the Township. They say the community needs a second 50m pool.

91原创 Olympians Swim Club currently has about 600 kids, said Paul McNamara, a club director.

鈥淲e could easily have 1,000 kids in our club, but we have no lane space,鈥� he said.

Having a 50m pool allows for more training and teaching space, he said.

Gabor Toth of Fraser Valley Water Polo had the same concerns.

鈥淲ater space capacity is maxed out,鈥� he said. The club has 160 members and a wait list because there just isn鈥檛 enough time and space in large pools to accommodate the sport.

McNamara compared building a shorter-than-regulation pool to building an ice rink or soccer field that鈥檚 smaller than standard size.

It limits the ways it can be used, the pool advocates said.

Even visitors who mostly wanted the pool for their small children said they鈥檇 be pleased if it was 50m.

Jordan and Tessa Sadowski brought their young children Beau, almost three, and Holden, a year old, along as they checked out the displays.

鈥淲e鈥檙e just looking for different options for our kids,鈥� said Tessa, who was pleased with the mix of indoor and outdoor spaces.

鈥淲e just heard that there was a pool going in, and that鈥檚 the most important thing for us,鈥� said Jordan.

He added that having a community centre that鈥檚 within walking or cycling distance would be a lot more convenient for his family.

Chris Lee, an other community visitor, said he wanted to see what the Township was suggesting for the site.

鈥淚nfrastructure鈥檚 lacking for sure,鈥� he said of the area.

Willoughby is the fastest-growing and largest neighbourhood of the community, with approximately 60,000 residents already.