Following weeks of complaints from community members, the reservation system at Kits Pool may be on its way out, according to a motion by the park board.
The motion from ABC Vancouver, dated July 17, says that the party is “taking action to eliminate advance booking at Kitsilano Outdoor Pool.”
Marie-Claire Howard, ABC Park Board Commissioner, submitted a motion this week that directs staff to eliminate the current reservation system at the pool and return to a drop-in public access policy.
- You might also like:
- Some Vancouver residents irked by 'gated' Kits Pool experience
- Is the Vancouver Park Board needlessly complicating the situation at Kits Pool?
- Public consultation begins on new replacement Kitsilano Outdoor Pool
If the motion passes, the reservation system will be eliminated by Aug. 1 and will remain so until the end of the season in September.
ABC Vancouver says the motion follows “another summer of long lines, empty lanes, and missed swims.”
Daily Hive Urbanized broke the story about issues that members of the public were having with the reservation system. Leading the outrage was Jody Vance, who has been relentless in drawing attention to those long lines and empty lanes on social media.
āDuring the global pandemic, we all understood the restrictions and the need to manage capacity,ā Jody Vance, a notable media personality, broadcaster, and once a frequent Kits Pool visitor, told Daily Hive Urbanized.
āThe return to social normalcy did not remove restrictions on Kits Pool. I became frustrated with the delay in access returning to pre-COVID levels,ā Vance said.
“We’ve heard loud and clear that the current system isn’t working and has prevented spontaneous access to one of the city’s most iconic summer destinations,” said Commissioner Howard in a statement.
“Let’s bring back drop-in access and get back to what public pools should be: a place for joy, not a source of stress. Families, seniors, and everyday swimmers shouldn’t have to fight online for a ticket or be turned away from empty lanes due to no-shows.”
The reservation system was introduced during the pandemic, which was part of the ire for some community members, who wondered why we needed a pandemic system when the pandemic was no longer ongoing. The system helped during the pandemic, but ABC Vancouver’s statement said, “It’s now creating more barriers than benefits.”
Some of the issues Kits pool users have reported include tickets selling out, which leaves other swimmers shut out, long lines, reduced access for youth, no-shows that leave empty lanes, and “a loss of spontaneity that defines summer in Vancouver.”
“Other cities have returned to more flexible, inclusive access models — and Vancouver should too. It’s time to bring back a system that works for everyone,” said Howard.
If the motion passes, it would also call on staff to implement “equitable access measures such as real-time capacity tracking, designated swim times for vulnerable residents, and improved communication around peak periods.”
It further directs staff to report back with long-term access recommendations that reflect public demand and prioritize fairness, efficiency, and usability.
Howard’s motion will be presented at the Park Board meeting on Monday.
We recently spoke with Dylan Myers, associate director of recreation services for the Park Board.
“A lot of this was based on just equitability, being able to come to the pool and make sure that more people can enjoy it,” Myers said.
In our June story, we also spoke to George Affleck, another local media personality with expertise in council matters, as he is a former councillor.
“Maybe have reservations during long weekends or heat waves, but the default should be: show up and swim. It shouldn’t feel like booking a concert ticket,” he said.
Want to stay on top of all things Vancouver?Ā Follow us on X