Greater Vernon Recreation Complex
Vernon, British Columbia

The Vernon Recreation Complex new 25 metre, 8 lane competition pool along with the conversion of existing pool into a leisure pool was complete and the doors opened October 1994. This four-year-old facility boasted 185,000 visits in 1997, and a recovery rate of 67% for that same year.

A visit to the Vernon Recreation Complex is like stepping into the tropical beauty of Hawaii, with colourful cloud-like banners, butterflies and parrots perched among giant palm trees. Rock outcrops and log and rope barriers soften the concrete and tile finishes around the pool. A mural depicting a turn of the 19th century Hawaiian shoreline and building material chosen to replicate native construction complete the interior decor.

One of the most popular attractions at any aquatic facility is a waterslide. To save space and increase safety, the waterslide at this facility was designed not to enter the pool directly, but comes to a finish in a landing strip on the pool deck, located next to the stairs leading back to the start of the slide. This feature even has seniors going down a waterslide for the first time and loving it!

A complaint of the existing pool was irritation to bathers’ eyes due to chlorine levels in the water. The retrofit of the facility included a new ozone water treatment system for both pools. With ozone there is not the same smell or the stinging of the eyes which can occur with a full chlorine system. The environment, both air and water, is much more enjoyable for the swimmer.