Municipal bathing pond a big draw to Saskatoon riverbank in 1920s

As the controversy over Saskatoon's riverbank sandbar 'beaches' heats up, a solution from the city's past has come to light.

In 1914, a "municipal bathing pond" was set up on the riverbank.

The pond was built from large wooden booms, and was set up on the shore of Victoria Park. The city passed a bylaw restricting swimming on the South Saskatchewan River, except within the pond.

There was a beach set up nearby, along with a lifeguard, a waterslide and a diving board.

It was closed in 1925 after the opening of Riversdale Pool.

While swimming in the pond was safer than the river, it wasn't completely secure. Two people drowned while swimming in it.

It doesn't appear a public beach will be coming back to the city anytime soon.

A report to Saskatoon city council in 2012 recommended against creating a public beach within the city limits due to the danger of swimming and wading in it.

The report said that even at low volumes, the river is dangerous because there are undercurrents with very swift moving water.