The City of Moose Jaw is making the Kinsmen Sportsplex pool more accessible for residents with disabilities by adding a new sling lift and change table to the family dressing room.
City council unanimously approved the upgrades during the Aug. 23 regular meeting. The parks and recreation department plans to spend $14,046 plus taxes to install the new equipment, with the funding coming from savings in the department’s major equipment reserve account.
The new lift will allow patrons with mobility challenges to safely get changed into their swimsuits or transfer to a water wheelchair to access the warmer leisure pool, which has no lift.
City hall received an email in February from a resident about possible accessibility upgrades that could be made to the Sportsplex changerooms, director Derek Blais explained. That email was then sent to the parks and recreation department and the special needs advisory committee for further consideration.
The committee worked with the department in April to update the list of future accessibility improvement projects. That list was then sent to city council, which approved the document.
The major equipment budget included funding this year to replace the pool deck chair lift for the lap tank at the Sportsplex pool, Blais said. That account had $22,500, and since the new lift cost $7,983.23, that left $14,561.55 in savings.
While the department and special needs advisory committee looked at grant opportunities, nothing was immediately available, he added.
“I think it’s a great piece of equipment for us to buy,” said Coun. Crystal Froese.
Coun. Doug Blanc agreed, saying, “We have to allow all of our citizens to use all of our facilities. I’m glad this is before us now. It’s money well spent.”
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Sept. 13.
