The Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation has responded to backlash over the COVID-era reservation system at Kits Pool by offering a 50% discount for drop-in users who arrive during the final 45 minutes of a session.
Additionally, the existing 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. sessions will be combined into a single 3 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. session.
The 80% reservation, 20% drop-in system will remain in place.
"These changes, including the drop-in discount and the extended session at Kitsilano Pool, are intended to improve the experience for drop-in users looking to enjoy our outdoor pools this summer," the Park Board wrote in a news release Thursday.
Officials held steadfast in their belief that the reservation system was a net positive, arguing that it "allows users, especially those traveling from farther away, to plan their visits with confidence."
"With the exception of a few peak days, most drop-in swimmers were accommodated at all outdoor pool facilities," they said. "Timed swim sessions have also helped ensure safe, efficient access to pools across the city while reducing wait times."
Among those at the forefront of the crusade to restore Kits Pool to its pre-COVID state. is renowned sports broadcaster and Vancouver resident Jody Vance.
She told the Western Standard she intends to continue pushing for its elimination.
On July 21, Park Board Commissioner Marie-Claire Howard tried to get a motion calling for the reservation system's removal heard, but Chair Laura Christensen ruled that it "did not qualify as urgent business."
"Last night, the Park Board chose delay over action, and Vancouver residents are the ones paying the price," Sim wrote in a press release the following day.
"Despite overwhelming public feedback calling for the immediate removal of the outdated Kits Pool advance booking system, the motion to scrap it was delayed until September 15, well after the pool closes for the summer. That’s not accountability, that's deliberate inaction."
