Meadow Park Recreation Centre
Whistler, British Columbia

The Meadow Park Recreation Centre opened its doors in July of 1994. With a construction cost of $4.5 million, the aquatic centre and fitness club, together with the existing arena, form the Meadow Park Sports Centre which is located on the west side of Highway 99 about six kilometres north of the Whistler Village. This aquatic facility includes a 25 metre 6 lane lap pool and a 2,000 square foot leisure pool that can hold 100 people and is heated between 88 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This aquatic centre saw between 750 and 1,000 visitors a day during its first two weeks of operation.

Features of the freeform leisure pool include, among other things, zero beach access, rapids channel, a vortex, tots’ pool with a weir and waterfall, raindrop, bears spraying water into the pool, and a rubber rock spray. The 18 person swirlpool is located beside the floor to ceiling windows making it possible for bathers to catch a few rays. A corner of the leisure pool has been used to create a tots' pool. A raised circular pool with a weir to allow water to flow into the leisure lagoon, the tots' pool is an integral part of the leisure pool rather than an isolated play area.

Because Whistler is a unique community it was decided to use a local woodlands inspired theme rather than a tropical theme. The interior decor is complete with trees, rocks, forest animals, and a mountain mural. The columns are disguised as fir trees. Surrounding the swirlpool are set rocks to reflect the basalt rocks around the Whistler area. Combined with the arena next door, the fitness room, squash courts and other features make the sports centre one that Whistler can be proud of.