Public Facilities Needs & Opportunities Study

HRM Commissioned Study calls for a Multi-Purpose International Caliber Facility on the Mainland Common

A 2004 Study was commissioned by HRM to develop a strategic approach to public facilities planning and development over a ten (10) year period. The study aimed to include the projection and identification of facility needs, and was to allow the siting of future and proposed public facilities within the context of the Capital District vision. The study was undertaken by Cantwell & Company Ltd.

The study included the following under section 4.8.4 (Swimming Pools):

As more mature adults move into the Capital District over the next few decades, there will be a slight increase in the demand for swimming pools as a means of exercise. Although the Centennial Pool would appear to be well suited towards attracting this activity, its location (an uphill walk from downtown), and poor change room facilities, are not a good match for the target audience. There is also a fairly modest population of young adults living in the neighbourhood immediately to the north of the Centennial Pool, however the facilities available at Centennial are better geared toward athletes, not children. In this regard, the Dartmouth Sportsplex is a superior facility. Therefore, the prime reason to continue to maintain the Centennial Pool at the current time is that it is the only cold water dive tank in Nova Scotia, and is critical to the maintenance of a competitive diving team.

Given the current state of the Centennial Pool, and the small parcel of land that is currently built on, it is not feasible to rebuild a new facility in this location. As well, research indicates that the target demographic for competitive divers are families with children who have in excess of $125,000 per year of household income. The highest concentration of these families is in Clayton Park. Finally, if a new swimming and diving complex is to be built, it should be done with an aim to providing an international caliber facility that would support a bid for a major Games (i.e., the Commonwealth Games). In this respect, the ideal location would be the Mainland Commons in Clayton Park. When this facility is built, it will need to contain a new dive tank, cold water competition (50 metre) pool. This would have a national focus.

View the study.