Inglewood Aquatic Centre Permanent Closure Update
(Updated Oct 2024)
The Inglewood Aquatic Centre has been identified as one of 13 City-operated recreation facilities that require major electrical repairs. While there is no safety risk for customers or staff accessing the facility, there is a risk the electrical system could unexpectedly fail. In consideration of Council’s prior decision to permanently close the facility and to reduce the risk of sudden impacts to customers and swim clubs, Inglewood Aquatic Centre will close on December 22, 2024.
While we understand and share in the collective disappointment at the loss of this notable recreation amenity in Ward 9, we also want to convey a few key points that lead to this decision.
Councillor Carra has spent the past decade committed to advocating for the Inglewood Aquatic Centre, exploring both reinvestment and potential expansion options to enhance the facility. However, the fact that The City does not own the land on which the pool sits has made many of these ideas unfeasible. Additionally, funding for recreational services is limited. As The City faces increasing budgetary pressures, we've had to reevaluate how and where we allocate our constrained resources. This ongoing challenge demands tough and often unfortunate choices about our priorities.
Many of Calgary’s city-operated aquatic and fitness facilities were built during a period of substantial public investment between the 1960s and 1980s. These facilities have been well-loved and well-used over the decades, however, at 50+ years old, they have operated beyond their intended lifespan. As such, many of these facilities are in need of extensive, costly repairs and have begun reaching their end-of-life service at the same time. Simply put, without the ability to significantly invest in these facilities from our tax-supported budget or contributions from other levels of government, difficult decisions around the future of many of Calgary’s aging recreation facilities have to be made.
The Inglewood Aquatic Centre has exceeded its expected lifespan by more than 20 years. Originally created as an outdoor pool, it was converted to an indoor facility in the 1960s. In May of this year, it was discovered that significant electrical repairs would be required in order to keep the facility operational. Initial estimates suggest that the repairs would take approximately three months to complete, necessitating the facility's closure during this period, with an estimated cost of $600,000. Additionally, once work was underway, it's anticipated that further issues would likely be uncovered, theoretically increasing both the closure timeline and investment required to fully repair the facility.
User fees collected at City-owned recreation facilities do not fully cover operational costs, meaning every visit is partially subsidized by our tax base. Due to the age of the Inglewood Aquatic Centre and its limited offerings—being solely a pool without fitness facilities, community spaces, or other recreational services—its usage is among the lowest in the City’s network. As a result, the per-swim subsidy is significantly higher compared to many of our other facilities.
In 2019, City Council directed Administration to identify permanent operating budget reductions of $60 million. After assessing the life expectancy of various City-owned facilities, attendance and user records, and tax supports required for operation, administration recommended that both the Inglewood Aquatic Centre and Beltline Aquatic Centre close in response to Council’s direction.
Since then, the City has explored alternative ideas for recreation facilities in Inglewood as well as the ideal location for a larger and more centralized inner-city, family-oriented aquatic leisure centre. The Inglewood pump track was the first of several new recreation amenities planned for Inglewood, while The MNP Community & Sports Centre was selected as the appropriate place for the inner city’s new investment in family leisure.
In 2021, Council approved the closure of Inglewood Aquatic Centre when MNP Community & Sport Centre’s Leisure Expansion Aquatics Project is completed. The expansion is expected to be complete in early 2027. However, the discovery of the required electrical repairs has since expedited the closure timeline.
The City of Calgary, The Province of Alberta, and The Lindsay Park Sports Society have come together to invest in the Leisure Expansion Aquatics Project (LEAP) at MNP Community & Sports Centre. This will provide a wider range of recreation programs and services that meet the needs of the greater downtown area, surrounding communities, and all Calgarians. While the project at MNP Community & Sport Centre is significant, further investment in other new, modernized recreation facilities is essential to serve Calgarians now and for generations to come. Moving forward, service delivery partnerships with organizations like MNP are a critical way to allow The City to reimagine how public recreation is funded, maintained, and delivered in Calgary.
GamePLAN, a long-term vision and strategy to shape The City’s approach to delivering inclusive, accessible, and sustainable recreation services for the next 10 to 30 years, will guide future business planning, investment, and policy. In 2025, GamePLAN findings and recommendations will be presented to Council, including a Facility Investment Plan. This will help raise awareness of the poor state of public recreation infrastructure, the resulting negative impacts, and the need for immediate and sustained investment.
The closure of Inglewood Pool creates the opportunity for potential redevelopment including new housing and stimulating the local economy. There will be no job loss resulting from the closure - staff who work there will be redeployed to other City-operated recreation facilities.
The City recognizes the value Inglewood Aquatic Centre has provided as a community recreation amenity contributing to the health and wellbeing of Calgarians, and acknowledges the closure of the facility will impact user groups and customers. A public celebration event is being planned to recognize the significance of this facility and celebrate its legacy. More information on the celebration event will be provided at calgary.ca/InglewoodPool.
For more information, including Committee Reports, Briefings, and Attachments that informed Council’s decision to close the Inglewood Aquatic Centre, please see the following:
City of Calgary website on the Inglewood Aquatic Facility
Beltline and Inglewood Facilities Rates and Fees – January 2020
Attachment 2: 2019 Revenues by Product Type – this document provides operating loss data for Inglewood Aquatic Centre.
Beltline and Inglewood Pools – Operating and capital targets and update on program of work – March 2020 – this document provides operating targets for Inglewood Aquatic Centre.
Beltline and Inglewood Pools Program – May 2021
Attachment 6: Inglewood Aquatic Centre Operating Targets and Short-Term Program Plans – this document provides 2019 attendance and tax support per visit for Inglewood Aquatic Centre and comparable facilities