January 25, 2010.  Check the "Downloads" tab to see info from the December "Stakeholders" meeting.  Also, check the City of Penticton website for information on the pool.  The almost final designs were presented to City Council on January 25, 2010.

City Council was presented with details to the pool upgrade designs.  City Council agreed to allow for a little flexibility in the budget to accommdate some of the suggestions from the January 8 "Open House".  This flexibility appears to allow the design team and steering committee to deal with a few design details in the lane swimming tank.  The issue regarding the entrance ramp to allow wheelchairs easy access into the water has been re-designed, to be located outside of the length swim tank, along the north-east corner (where the water slide is located).  The number of lanes will be decreased to 10, as each lane will be wider the the current specifications.  The depth at the north side is slated to be a consistent 1 meter, to allow the wheelchairs access and operating function.  This consistent depth also results in consistent lane depth for north-south lane swimming, and even depth for aquasize in the north half of the tank.  These specification are not yet shown on the city website, but will soon do so.  Thanks to Tina Hoeben for working towards this objective, and the update on the information.  According to some attendees at the Open House, were informed that lane configuration will remain in the north-south format, not alternating between north-south, and east-west.  Thus reducing staff time to change lane format.

There will be a construction period, up to March 31, 2011, at which time a "significant completion" must be achieved to receive the $15.5 million from the joint federal/provincial funding group.  During the construction period, the existing pool will be unavailable for use.  The steering committee has emphasized to the pool project management team to try to allow for the existing pool to be used for as long as possible while the new leisure pool is under construction.  There will be a period that the existing pool will be unavailable for swimming. 

 The Thompson Okanagan Tourist Association, and Penticton Sport Tourism are working on developing a triathlon promotion for the future.  The concept is to have a spring triathlon conference in Penticton.  A variety of speaker and seminars, followed by training camps from numerous coaches from around the continent.