Leisure concept jeered at June 16 public meeting

"The only thing missing is a swim up bar" one resident exclaims

On June 16, 2005, HRM's volunteer MCRC Board presented a conceptual plan for the Mainland Common Recreation Centre at the Keshen Goodman Library. The plans presented were the culmination of work completed over the 18-month existence of the volunteer board.

The conceptual plan revolved around construction of a leisure pool featuring a lazy river, palm trees, outdoor lagoon and unixex European-style change area, but did not include a pool for lane swimming and lacked several other "dryland" recreational features.

Leisure pool conceptual drawings

(click on images to enlarge)

overhead view	overhead view	Side view	Site plan overhead view

Jeers instead of cheers

The presentation was met with fierce criticism by those in attendance; none were willing to accept the facility as it was, a facility so markedly astray from the community's vision. In a mere two hours, the culmination of 18 months of planning was roundly rejected; the board had seemingly failed; or did they?

The blame could hardly be placed squarely on the board. Since it's inception in 2003, the board had to work within the limitations that HRM had constructed for it. Over the next year and a half, a lack of interest towards outside partnerships and seeming unwillingness to overcome funding barriers rendered a once grand vision for the facility and diminished it to lower than the bare essentials, the plans presented at the June 16 meeting.

Reeling from the public recoil yet handcuffed to move in their desired direction, one by one, members of the MCRC Board dropped off; resigning in frustration with the no-win situation they had been placed in. One month following the meeting, the MCRC Board had but two members remaining, was without quorum and was officially dissolved by HRM.

» July 28, 2005 - HRM letter to MCRC Board (PDF)

» September 18, 2005 - Op-ed Article by former MCRC Board Chair and Vice Chair