Residents can finally make a splash with long-delayed outdoor pool project in Oshawa

After a wait of nearly seven years and a budget that more than tripled from its original estimate, the new Rotary Park & Pool is finally opening, with two free community swims planned for Wednesday.

Summer fun at Rotary Park was something Oshawa residents took for granted for nearly a century, with the pool a big part of that trip down memory lane for locals. But all that changed in 2019 when major structural faults were discovered in the pool and the city shut it down at the end of the season.

Two years later the pool was the overwhelming first choice (80 per cent) for rebirth in a 2021 survey, with the cost at the time for a new leisure pool, major splash pad and playground amenities pegged at about $8 million.

Then the pandemic hit and the rising supply chain issues that plagued construction projects all over the globe drove the price up to nearly $19 million by late 2023. Residents and taxpayers made it clear they wanted their pool back, however, and the city chose the redevelopment of the park as the city’s centennial year Legacy Project and awarded the contract to Maystar General Contractors in early 2024 to create a new park at Gibb and Centre Street, just south of downtown.

Construction began in the spring in 2024 and by that summer the city was declaring the nearly $25 million project on schedule, with the summer of 2025 targeted for opening day.

That date soon became “later in 2025,” followed by an undeclared date in 2026 before council finally narrowed it down to the summer of ’26, prompting Oshawa councillors Brian Nicholson and Tito-Dante Marimpietri to call on council to waive swimming fees for Oshawa residents on a first-come, first-served basis for the first full year of operation of the pool, with eligibility drafted to ensure “fair and equitable access.”

“The residents have been waiting a long time for the replacement of Rotary Pool with a new facility and council needs to reward that patience,” said Nicholson last year. “Providing free swimming at the Rotary Pool once it opens is recognition of their patience and support.”

After a long wait, opening day is now here and Nicholson said last week he is “beyond thrilled” to finally see the pool finally open, and hoping residents are able to make use of the promised free swimming at the outdoor facility for as long as possible.

The rebuilt Rotary Park and Pool has transformed the site into a modern recreational hub with a new outdoor pool featuring four swimming lanes, a zero-entry area and a toddler pool. The project will also include a destination playground, a splash pad, enhanced pathways, a redesigned parking lot and other site amenities.

The City of Oshawa is inviting residents to kick-off the completion of the outdoor pool at Rotary Park today with two free swims from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Admission is available on a first-come, first-served basis and capacity limits will be followed. Hopefully the weather won’t put a damper on the opening day festivities but in the event of severe weather, leisure swim cancellations will be posted to the city’s website under ‘Service Disruptions.’

While the pool, splash pad, and playground will be open for public use, some finishing touches from the contractor are still underway.

Oshawa residents can enjoy free leisure swims all summer long with a free Rotary Park Pool season pass that allows them to attend drop-in leisure swims during scheduled times by checking in and scanning your pass card as well as register for free swimming lessons.

Visit oshawa.ca/RotaryPool to register.