Mount Forest Outdoor Pool | Township of Wellington North

The Lion Roy Grant Pool in Mount Forest was constructed in 1948. The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health failed an inspection on June 7, 2022, ultimately resulting in the pool being closed for the season due to the amount of repairs needed to bring the pool and facility up to Public Health Standards. Maintenance challenges and costs made it unsustainable to continue its operation. At 74 years old, the pool significantly exceeded the average lifespan of 28 years for outdoor municipal pools. Since 2007, the pool issue has appeared in 120 sets of agendas and minutes, with 30 reports submitted for consideration. Detailed information can be found in report CLK 021-2024. The future home of the Mount Forest Outdoor Pool is east of the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex at 850 Princess Street.

Timeline of Major Decisions:

January 14, 2016: The Mount Forest Lions Club pledged full support for a new pool.
September 2016: Triton Engineering advised major renovations or replacement of the existing pool.
February 6, 2018: Mount Forest Lions Club representatives expressed financial support for a splashpad and a new pool.
March 11, 2019: Council approved the location for the new pool east of the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex.
July 29, 2021: A Request For Proposal was issued for the development and selection of a conceptual design.
March 23, 2022: An open house was held regarding the pool design. A community survey was distributed to attendees and made available online to solicit feedback on the pool designs. Public comments were received until April 30, 2022.
April 25, 2022 / May 9, 2022: Council discussed the feasibility of fixing the existing pool.
June 7, 2022: Public Health inspection failed the Mount Forest Pool due to multiple deficiencies discovered during the inspection resulting in the pool being closed.
June 27, 2022: Council considered transportation options to Arthur, for pool users and implemented a refund option.
August 29, 2022: Council approved the conceptual design for the new pool.
February 21, 2023: A staff report provided additional financial thresholds for future planning.
March 20, 2023: Council chose design Option 3 for the new pool.
April 17, 2023: Council directed staff to proceed with the decommissioning of the Lion Roy Grant Pool and rehabilitation of the property.
October 10, 2023: Updated Mount Forest new outdoor pool workplan and design drawings were presented and approved by Council.

Building on their success with the MacDonald-Schwindt Lions Splash Pad, the Mount Forest Aquatics Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee is helping to lead discussions for community input and involvement, provide design recommendations, and lead the fundraising initiatives of a new outdoor pool in Mount Forest.

Recurring Payment Plan
Interested in supporting the new Mount Forest Outdoor Pool with flexible payments over time? Set up a Recurring Payment Plan with your financial institution to make contributions conveniently and at intervals that work for you.
To learn more: Recurring Payment Plan

Next Steps & 2023 Work Plan

Next Steps
Staff Report OPS 2023-001 (PDF) was presented to Council for consideration at their meeting on January 16, 2023. Council approved in principle the work plan as presented within the staff report.

Staff Report OPS 2023-034 (PDF) was presented to Council for consideration at their meeting on October 10, 2023. Council approved an updated work plan as presented within the staff report.

The work plan approved on October 10, 2023, is as follows:

Steps to Date

Winter 2022	Council approved $576,000 as part of the 2022 capital budget for pool design work
Spring 2022	Architects Tillman Ruth Robinson brought forward three conceptual design for a new Mount Forest Outdoor Pool and Aquatics Centre – Recreation focused, Land Swim Focused and Hybrid
March 23, 2022	Township hosted public open house to present and discuss conceptual designs with the community
March – April 2022	Township received feedback via public survey on conceptual designs as presented
May 2022	Township staff brought results of public survey for discussion to Recreation, Parks and Leisure Committee
Summer 2022	Township Council direct staff to bring a modified conceptual design, concept design #4, for consideration and approval; Pool was a standing item on Council agenda during the summer months
August 2022	Township Council approve conceptual design #4 and direct staff to proceed to schematic design; Township Council further directed staff to investigate the option of engaging a professional fundraising service provider to support project fundraising efforts
January 2023	Township Council reviews schematic design and probable cost estimate and provides further direction to Township staff
March 2023	During the 2023 Budget discussion at council meeting, Council determined that the tax payer contribution towards the $5.3 million Mount Forest pool will be $2.8 million and the fundraising target will be $2.5 million
Summer 2023	Architect completes detailed design and provides probable cost estimate to plus of minus ten percent

Current Step

Fall 2023

Township Council reviews detailed design and probable cost estimate and provides further direction to Township staff

Proposed Next Steps

Winter 2023	Council decision for financial contribution for 2024 Capital Budget
Winter 2024	Council decision for financial contribution for 2025 and future capital budgets

Once 80% of the $2.5 million Fundraising Target has been met and initiated through a motion included in the minutes from Mount Forest Aquatics Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee to a future meeting of council and further direction is given to Township staff:

TBD	Architect completes construction design and specification for tendering package including updated probable cost estimate (Approximately 4 month task to complete.)
TBD	Council decision on increasing the financial funding from the original $5.3 million cost estimate to the updated probable construction design cost estimate

Once 100% of the $2.5 million Fundraising Target has been met and initiated through a motion included in the minutes from Mount Forest Aquatics Ad-Hoc Advisory Committee to a future meeting of council and further direction is given to Township staff:

TBD	Council decision for final financial contribution for future capital budget
TBD	Tender
TBD	Construction
TBD	Completion of Construction
TBD	Season after construction is completed, the new Mount Forest Outdoor Pool and Aquatics Centre opens for its inaugural season

Approved Conceptual Design
Staff Report OPS 2022-021 was presented to Council for consideration at their meeting on August 29, 2022. The report presented the outdoor pool conceptual design, prepared by Township consultant architects Tillmann Ruth Robinson, and was approved at Council.
Presented Conceptual Designs
Scott Robinson of Tillmann Ruth Robinson provided a presentation to the Recreation, Parks and Leisure Committee at their February 8, 2022, meeting on three conceptual designs for the new Mount Forest Outdoor Pool That presentation can be viewed on the Township's YouTube Channel.
Outdoor Pool Concept Designs (PDF) Outdoor Pool Concept Designs 3D Renderings (PDF)

Community Survey

At a Public Meeting for the new pool on March 23, 2022, Scott Robinson of Tillmann Ruth Robinson presented three, 3D-rendered concept designs. A survey was distributed to attendees, and made available on the Township website, to solicit feedback on the pool designs. The survey was promoted on social media platforms and the township website. The survey was open from March 23 to April 30, 2022, and it received a total of 121 responses.

On May 10, 2022, Staff Report OPS 2022-007 was presented to Chair and Members of Recreation, Parks and Leisure Committee that presented the results of the Mount Forest Outdoor Pool Community Survey.

Of the 121 responses, 41.32% preferred Concept 3 (hybrid), 30.58% preferred Concept 2 (swim-centric), and 28.10% preferred Concept 1 (recreational).

26 individuals expressed interest in participating in fundraising efforts and 28 expressed a desire to contribute financially.

When asked to select the 3 main features they would like to see included in the pool, the most common responses were diving board, sunshades, beach entry, and rock wall.

Additional features and amenities that respondents said they would like to see included are the following:
- High diving board
- Waterslide
- Hot tub area
- Roof
- Sidewalks from Cork Street
- Outdoor lockers, music, and Wi-Fi

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQs