Vancouver’s famous beachside landmark, Kits Pool, will not be opening this year.
The summer bummer was announced in a statement posted to the City of Vancouver website and social media Wednesday morning.
“We regret to announce that Kitsilano Outdoor Pool will remain closed this summer. This decision was made after careful consideration and will allow staff to address a number of core issues with the pool,” it said.
The news isn’t entirely surprising. The 137-metre long pool that sits on Kitsilano Beach already had its scheduled May 18 opening pushed back indefinitely due to what city officials called “unforeseen repairs.”
Last year, Vancouver Park Board commissioners heard a sobering presentation about the severe problems facing the city’s largest outdoor pool, including the news that it was leaking 30,000 litres of water an hour due to cracks and breaks in circulation pipes.
It appears those issues are proving difficult to fix.
“Despite repairs made during the off-season, the pool is still losing a substantial amount of water, making it impossible to balance pool chemicals,” Wednesday’s statement said.
“Vancouver Coastal Health has confirmed that the pool cannot be operated safely in its current state.”
Kits Pool was built over 50 years ago and has been showing its age.
A king tide in January of 2022 caused significant damage to the piping system that circulates and filters the water.
The notice said a custom liner will be installed in the pool to help extend its life.