Outdoor pools open for the summer

All of the city’s main outdoor summer pools will be ready for swimmers on Saturday, but some paddling pools will be opening a few weeks later than planned.

Christchurch City Council outdoor summer pools at Waltham, Halswell, Lyttelton, and Jellie Park  open this Saturday along with the paddling pools at Scarborough, New Brighton (whale pool) and Spencer Park. 

Scarborough Paddling Pool

However, families keen to use paddling pools at the Botanic Gardens, Abberley Park, Edgar MacIntosh and Woodham Park will need to wait until at least November 19. The opening dates may change if there are adverse weather conditions.

It was originally planned for the paddling pools to open at Show Weekend, but wet and windy spring weather has caused delays. Christchurch City Council Western Area Recreation Manager Nigel Cox said previously the pools were painted each year before opening for the summer months, but this year the old paint has been stripped back and they are being covered with a non-slip resin-based paint that will last for 10 years. This coating needs to dry thoroughly to be fully effective and if it is applied in windy conditions it can be contaminated by dust or pollen.

Avebury paddling pool, which has been completely rebuilt, will officially open on November 23 as originally planned.  Templeton Pool will open on December 3 as planned.

This will be the first summer since the February 2011 earthquake that all of the city's outdoor summer pools will be open, a milestone in the city's rebuild.

Most of the pools have been significantly upgraded with new marine-themed murals painted on the bottom of paddling pools at Abberley Park, Avebury Park, Edgar MacIntosh, Spencer Park and Woodham Park, and shade sails installed at several pools, including the popular Botanic Gardens paddling pool.