It has been revealed that the Vancouver Park Board will soon hear a motion calling for the elimination of the COVID-era online reservation system at Kits Pool.
The move comes amid widespread backlash over the policy, which many have argued has negatively impacted their experience at the public facility and all but eliminated spontaneity.
According to ABC Vancouver, Park Board Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard submitted the motion earlier this week. If passed, it would do away with the reservation system as early as August 1. It would also introduce new measures such as "real-time capacity tracking, designated swim times for vulnerable residents & improved communication around peak periods."
"We've heard loud & clear the current system isn't working & has prevented spontaneous access to one of the city's most iconic summer destinations," Howard said. "Let's bring back drop-in access & get back to what public pools should be: a place for joy, not a source of stress."
Howard's motion is scheduled to be presented at a Park Board meeting on Monday July 21.
Among those who celebrated the move was renowned sports broadcaster and Vancouver resident Jody Vance, who has been at the forefront of the crusade to restore Kits Pool to its pre-COVID state.
"I FEEL SEEN!" she wrote in a post on X. "Better late than never, ABC."
She urged people to continue emailing Park Board Commissioner & Chair Laura Christensen.
In a recent interview with the Western Standard, Vance called the whole situation — and the Park Board's response — "outrageous," lamenting the fact that "this incredible community asset is being kept from a generation of families as all spontaneity is gone."
She went on to explain that four times a day, the pool is completely closed for "changeovers," which often result in the formation of "massive lines" in the hot sun.
Her sentiments were shared by a fellow resident, David Fine, who said he was "baffled by the park boards attitude."
"Before the pandemic, no one was complaining about the way it worked," he told the Western Standard. "If you wanted to go swimming, you could usually go down any time that be maybe a lineup or none, but the lineups would be minimal because it was spread out."
In a statement to the Western Standard, the Park Board cast doubt on claims that backlash to the policy was "widespread," suggesting that "concerns have primarily come from a small number of vocal residents."
"As demand has steadily increased over the years, the online reservation system has become an essential tool for managing visitor volumes safely and efficiently," the board wrote. "It also enhances the guest experience by allowing people to plan their visits with greater ease."
