Following a meeting held March 5 that saw aquatic centre stakeholders meet with the design team, it seems that the needs expressed by members of the Warm Water Pool Therapy Society will largely be met.
Town representatives, Stantec Engineering, Tango project managers and various stakeholder groups were present — including Robin Mitchell, general manager of the Spray Lake Sawmills Family Sports Centre, and Serge Tessier from Cochrane Sport Physiotherapy and Massage.
“The 3D model (prepared by the design team) was extremely helpful in understanding how a range of services could be provided in the warm water therapy pool,” said society director Richard Foy.
“Issues such as access, depths, jets, flat floor, benches and portable equipment placement can all contribute to assisting multiple user groups with their specific healing and therapy needs…What is important to the society is that no groups will feel excluded from access and treatment at the therapy pool due to design constraints.”
The therapy pool is included in the overall price tag for the aquatic/curling facility that currently sits at $45 million; the breakdown of costs will be presented at the March 24 presentation to council, led by senior manager of community services, Suzanne Gaida.
“We are able to accommodate all the current needs,” said Gaida, who is excited to move into the next phase of the project. “If we get the green light (at the March 24 council presentation) then we move into the launch of the fundraising campaign.”
Design accommodations that have been addressed included the creation of the 3D model as a key visual aid for all stakeholders; reducing the noise factor by lowering the ceiling portion over the therapy pool and baffling the ceilings and walls; preliminary discussions to address privacy and ambience concerns through proper programming and scheduling; and a commitment from the design team to ensure no user groups are excluded. Learn more at cochranewarmwatertherapy.org.
