Sherbrook Pool reopening delayed until mid-June, possibly later

An unexpected leak has forced the City of Winnipeg to delay reopening the Sherbrook Pool by more than a month.

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Problems with the pool'sdrain connectionshave forced the city to empty the pool anddo repairs, said a City of Winnipeg spokesperson. The process of refilling the pool after the fix will take an additionaltwo weeks.

"Then the permitting has to be done ... the public health inspectors [will] inspectit and there's other safety inspections that has to be done," saidMarianneCerillichair of the Friends of theSherbrookPool.The advocacy group hoped the pool would be open next week.

Sherbrook Pool has been closed since the fall of 2012 when structural concerns were raised in the more than 80-year-old building. Renovations on the building included repairing the roof, replacing the pool deck, removing bleachers and refurbishing the entrance and locker rooms.

"People are going to notice some changes," said Cerilli who has yet to see the final results of renovations.

Cerilli said shehopes to get the word out about Sherbrook Pool to encourage users to return back to the recreation centre or discover it for the first time when it finally reopens.

"I'm passionate about Winnipeg's inner city and this is another asset in the inner city that we have to maintain so that we don't have a Winnipeg that's a big doughnut with a declining inner city and a sprawling suburb," she said.

The city has given Sherbrook Pool funding to develop unique programming at the pool, addedCerilli.

Some of the programideas being considered include: a Muslim women's swim, swim time for people ofall body types, and swimming classes for adults.

"We're really trying to look at what the community would like to see at that pool," said Cerilli.

A spokesperson for the City of Winnipeg said constructioncrews are working "as quickly as possible" to reopen the Sherbrook Pool.

The city expects the repairs to take until mid-June however the timeline may be extended if there are delays acquiring necessary parts to fix the leaking pipes.