Long wait ends for summer swims at Rotary Park
The long-awaited outdoor pool at Rotary Park in downtown Oshawa will reopen to the public on July 22, the city says, with two free community swims planned for opening day. The facility’s return ends almost seven years without public summer swims at the site after structural problems forced its 2019 closure.
Background: community demand and escalating costs
Residents had expressed strong support for rebuilding the pool. In a 2021 city survey the Rotary site was overwhelmingly chosen as the top priority for replacement, with about 80 per cent favouring a new leisure pool alongside a major splash pad and playground amenities. Initial cost estimates at that time put the project at roughly $8 million.
However, costs rose substantially as supply-chain pressures and other inflationary factors emerged following the pandemic. By late 2023 the projected cost had climbed to nearly $19 million, and when council designated the redevelopment as the city’s centennial Legacy Project the contract was awarded in early 2024. The total project value reported during construction approached $25 million.
Timeline and construction
| Year | Key milestone | Reported cost |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Rotary Pool closed due to structural issues | — |
| 2021 | Public survey; Rotary selected as top choice | ~$8 million (estimate) |
| Late 2023 | Cost estimate rises amid supply issues | ~$19 million |
| Early 2024 | Contract awarded to Maystar General Contractors; construction begins spring 2024 | ~$25 million (project value reported) |
| 2026 | Opening planned for July 22 | — |
Council discussion on access and fees
The prolonged timeline and rising price tag prompted councillors to press for ways to recognise residents’ patience. Councillors Brian Nicholson and Tito-Dante Marimpietri asked council last year to waive user fees for Oshawa residents on a first-come, first-served basis for the pool’s first full year of operation. The proposal included drafting eligibility rules intended to ensure "fair and equitable access."
“The residents have been waiting a long time for the replacement of Rotary Pool with a new facility and council needs to reward that patience,” Councillor Brian Nicholson said last year.
Nicholson has said he is "beyond thrilled" the pool will open and hopes residents will use the promised free access for as long as possible. City officials say the facility is ready to welcome visitors, though contractors are completing some final minor works.
What residents should know
- Opening day: July 22 — two free community swims planned.
- Location: Rotary Park at Gibb and Centre Street, just south of downtown Oshawa.
- Contractor: Maystar General Contractors; construction began in spring 2024.
- Project context: originally prioritised by the community in 2021; total reported project value approached $25 million.
The rebuilt facility will restore a recreational amenity that served Oshawa for nearly a century before the 2019 closure. With the July opening confirmed, the focus now turns to how council implements access rules and any fee-waiver decisions affecting local residents during the pool’s first year of operation.
