Check out information kiosks at Mayfair Mall, the Bay Centre and in the Crystal Pool lobby and connect with staff at an event near you. See dates and locations below.
In June 2024, Council approved the Crystal Pool Replacement Project moving forward to referendum. Victoria voters will have the chance to weigh in on the loan required to build a new facility plus a preferred site option. Information on where, when and how to vote will be shared in fall 2024.
Two locations in Central Park are being considered for the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre:
The current location of the Crystal Pool (North)
The location of the playground, tennis and basketball courts (South)
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Facility Features
For both site options, the design for the new Crystal Pool and Wellness Centre is a high-quality health and wellness facility that is climate resilient and universally accessible.
Regardless of the chosen site, features of the new pool area will include:
50 m pool with moveable bulkhead
Leisure pool with 25 m warm-up lanes, a shallow area, play features and a lazy river
Two hot pools at different temperatures
Sauna and steam room
Seating and viewing areas
The recreation centre will also have:
Large fitness studio
Multi-purpose rooms for sports, dance, fitness, wellness and art
Community gathering spaces
Universal washroom and change room options
Expanded parking including accessible and EV charging options
Short- and long-term bike parking
Site Options and Borrowing Amounts
Each option has a unique design and budget. For both options, a total of $47 M will be used from City reserve funds to reduce the amount of borrowing required. While the City is seeking additional funding from other levels of government to reduce the borrowing amount, until those are confirmed the referendum must seek the highest borrowing amount required. Budget tables can be viewed in the drop-down sections lower on this page.
Common to both options:
A portion of the green space in Central Park would be used as construction staging area
A new traffic signal at Quadra and Princess will improve safety and access to the facility
A new multi-use pathway connecting through the park to Vancouver Street at Princess
North
Borrowing required to build this option is $162.2 M
Shorter overall construction schedule and less complex construction plan
Impact to property taxes would be an average of $232 per residence for 20 years
Using current location of the Crystal Pool reduces required excavation and tree loss
Existing facility closed during construction
Central Park playground, sports courts and outdoor fitness equipment open during construction
Fitness and recreation services offered at the Crystal Garden building on Douglas St during construction
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South
Borrowing required to build this option is $168.9 M
Longer overall construction schedule and more complex phased construction plan
Impact to property taxes would be an average of $240 per residence for 20 years
Building would maximize the existing clearing but some trees would need to be removed and several more would be at risk of significant damage during construction
Sports courts, playground and outdoor fitness equipment closed during construction
Park amenities temporarily relocated in the North Park neighbourhood during construction where possible
After the new facility is built, the old facility demolished and the underground parking built in its place, the park amenities would be relocated to the north side of the park, in the location of the existing Crystal Pool
Current facility may remain open during construction but choosing this site does not guarantee that the pool will last until the end of construction
There is a high risk of systems failing and lost investments plus damage due to construction activity is possible which could cause a sudden and unplanned closure
Parking lot would not be built until about 18 months after the facility opens which would add pressure to neighbourhood parking; 35 on-street parking spaces would be temporarily added to Queens and Pembroke Streets
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Feasibility Study and Staff Report
For an in-depth review of the site options and analysis, view the staff report and feasibility study presented to Council in June 2024.
Project Budget and Tax Implications
Central Park North
Central Park South
Total project budget
$209.2 M
$215.9 M
Funding from City reserves
($47 M)
($47 M)
Net cost funded by debt
$162.2 M
$168.9 M
The total project budget includes all project costs from design to project close out.
The budgets were prepared by a team of experts and informed by a detailed risk analysis and construction implementation plan.
Tax increases would be gradually phased in over four to five years. The averages listed would be the amount paid per year for 20 years once the facility is open.
Central Park North
Central Park South
Estimated tax increase (%)
7.24%
7.54%
Average residential cost ($)
$232
$240
Average business cost ($)
$596
$620
Estimates are based on the average 2024 residential property, assessed at $1,046,000 and a typical business at $733,000.
Construction: 41 months including eight months of demolition of the existing facility at the start of construction
New facility and parking both open 62 months after start of project
Central Park South:
Design: 15 months
Construction: 52 months in two phases
Phase 1: building the new facility (36 months)
Phase 2: demolition of the old facility (eight months) then building the underground parking lot and park amenities above parking (10 months)
New facility open 51 months after start of project, parking open 18 months later.
FAQ
The Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre is at the end of its useful life and is no longer meeting the needs of the community. An in-depth facility assessment has revealed that many of the building systems and components are failing and require significant investment to keep the facility operational.
Many of the facility’s systems and components are at or near end-of-life and require significant investment to maintain operations. The facility has accessibility barriers that prevent equitable use, plus the building is the City’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
The pool drainage system, waterproofing and parts of the building structure including the skylights are at greatest risk of failure.
As the City’s only public pool and a provider of a wide range of programming, this facility provides an essential service to residents and visitors in Victoria. Replacing this facility will ensure that it continues to meet the community’s social, health and wellness needs for years to come. Recreation centres play an important role in building strong, inclusive and resilient communities. A new Crystal Pool facility will create opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to enjoy the spaces and programs.
The referendum is being planned for early 2025. More information on where, when and how to vote will be shared once the referendum date is confirmed by the Province in fall 2024.
A comprehensive public engagement process on the Crystal Pool replacement project took place in three phases in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Over 4,400 people participated in three phases of engagement which included open houses, surveys, focus groups, stakeholder meetings and pop-up engagement at community events. This community input informed the facility's features, design and guiding principles of the design.
The new facility aims to be a place where everyone feels welcome. Accessibility and inclusion are embedded into all aspects of the new facility's design, features and future operations.
The new facility design follows universal design principles and will pursue Rick Hansen Certification. Universal design ensures meaningful access to all parts of the facility. Key features include:
fully accessible circulation
clear wayfinding
multiple options to access pools
level transitions throughout the facility
large universal washroom and change rooms
With a focus on the intersectional needs of our communities, the new facility will promote all facets of physical, mental and social health and wellness to benefit people of all ages, abilities, backgrounds and experiences.
The public will have to use other pools in the region during construction much like when the pool is closed for annual maintenance or unplanned repair work.
If Victoria voters choose not to support borrowing to build a new facility, staff will return to Council to seek direction on potential next steps.
The facility condition assessment has revealed that many of the systems are at or beyond their useful life which means they could fail at any time.
The City has made significant investments to maintain services and keep the building operational – about $2 M in upgrades since 2017. Given the age of the building and its various systems, parts are getting harder to find which means some systems need to be redesigned if they fail again.
Project Background
The Crystal Pool and Fitness Centre is an aging facility built in 1971 that is no longer meeting the needs of the community. Its components are at or near end-of-life and require significant investment to maintain operations, plus the building is the City’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases.
As the City’s only public pool and a provider of a wide range of programming, this facility provides an essential service to residents and visitors in Victoria. Replacing this facility will ensure that it continues to meet the community’s social, health and wellness needs for years to come.
After completing a feasibility study in 2017, Council made the decision to replace the Crystal Pool. However, the project faced significant delays due to subsequent changes in Council direction, unforeseen activities, and the need for additional workshops and studies. The replacement project was then postponed in early 2020 due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2023, Council directed staff to revive the process of planning and budgeting for a new recreation and aquatic centre, and to study the implications of locating a new aquatic recreation facility on up to four potential sites.
Over the past three years, the City has focused on addressing risks to service interruptions and priority life cycle maintenance work. This has included significant capital investment in upgrades to the heating and air handling systems and other modifications.
Get In Touch
If you have any questions about the Crystal Pool Replacement Project or need assistance with any of the materials on this page, get in touch by email or phone, 250.361.0210.