Jellie Park Prepares for Re-Opening
30 June 2008
With only weeks to go until Jellie Park emerges from its $12 million makeover, excitement is mounting amongst regulars who’ve had to train elsewhere for the last year.
Jellie Park will offer year-round aquatic activities for western Christchurch, featuring 16 lanes of water (a new 25 metre, 8-lane, 2m deep pool suitable for aquatic sports; and a refurbished existing 25 metre, 8-lane pool with three lanes raised for Learn to Swim classes) as well as a new toddlers pool and a refurbished existing learners pool. There will also be:
The bigger and better Jellie Park is the first facility to be developed under the Christchurch City Council’s Aquatic Facilities Plan - designed to meet the city’s aquatic needs for the next 30 years by rolling out new and revamped facilities.
Simon Battrick, the Council’s Western Area Recreation Manager, says overwhelming demand for pool space at Jellie Park reinforces the Council’s Aquatic Facilities Plan and the $12 million that was spent redeveloping Jellie Park. “It shows that the upgrade of Jellie Park was badly needed - but even so, we still won’t be able to meet everyone’s needs. We’re already looking ahead to the planned Graham Condon Leisure Centre - which will help to meet increasing demand in the north west of the city.
“The old Jellie Park was really struggling to offer access to everyone who wanted it and it was often the general public who missed out. With the new Jellie Park we’re addressing that by reserving significant amounts of lane space so that the public can come in here and swim on their own. We also want to make sure the facilities are available to schools and clubs for meets and other events,” says Simon Battrick.
“We are so very fortunate to have such an amazing new training facility in the city - both for water based and fitness activities. It is very gratifying to see Jellie Park being restored to its former status and to see such strong demand for its facilities. As we settle into the new complex and assess demand patterns, we’ll be doing our very best to satisfy as many swimmers as possible.
“For weeks now we have been fielding inquiries about the Learn to Swim programmes that we’ll be offering - and it’s great to see the value that people place on a quality, professional swim programme. ” says Simon Battrick.
Jellie Park will be re-opening its doors to the public on Monday 4 August.
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