One of the ways to beat the heat in Flin Flon is unlikely open this summer.
The wading pool at Willowvale Park has been tentatively closed for summer 2018 due to repairs.
An issue with the pool’s recirculation and filtration system is the cause for the closure. Preliminary tests have showed the pool’s filters do not currently pass health regulations.
“We had to close it due to public health regulations until we can do something to repair it or find out exactly what the issue is,” said Nicole Hartman, recreation director for the City of Flin Flon.
“It’s what keeps the water clean and disinfected. It’s circulating it through a filter and chlorinating it. Ours isn’t working properly, so the water isn’t being disinfected properly.”
To fix the problem, the Willowvale pool’s existing base may need to be jackhammered. The pipes and filters that make up the recirculation and filtration system are located under the pool’s concrete deck.
Shutting the Willowvale pool down means that there will only be one city-run spray pad in Flin Flon this summer – the pad at Rotary Park. Creighton’s spray pad will also be operational this year, as well as the Flin Flon Aqua Centre.
It is possible that the pool could reopen before the fall, but that depends on how quickly repairs can be completed.
“We won’t know until we get in there. Maybe we get in there and it’s an easy fix and we can be open for the remainder of the season, but we don’t want to promise that because we don’t really know what we’re looking at yet,” said Hartman.
Aside from the cited issues, no repairs to the site are planned, including any fixes to the site’s perimeter fence, tables or the change room building.
“If we’re going to jackhammer up pipes, we’re going to need to do some concrete repairs and painting and stuff. I don’t think we’ll be doing anything else. The building is still good and the fence is still good,” said Hartman.
