Kits Pool finally opened recently, but despite being open to the public, not everyone is a fan of the reservation system.
Reservation systems were introduced at Vancouver pools during the COVID-19 pandemic. Vancouver was not the only city to do this.
Now that we’re pretty far removed from the pandemic, do we still need the reservation system?
“During the global pandemic, we all understood the restrictions and the need to manage capacity,” Jody Vance, a notable media personality and broadcaster and once a frequent Kits Pool visitor, told Daily Hive Urbanized.
Vance is using her profile to advocate for changes to Kits Pool.
Just had a call with the @ParkBoard GM regarding #KitsPool access – and the need to return it to pre-COVID “first-come-first-served” VS the ridiculous “online reservation system” (OR AT LEAST find some compromise between the two so the community has access.) Will report back.
— Jody Vance (@jodyvance) June 25, 2025
“The return to social normalcy did not remove restrictions on Kits Pool. I became frustrated with the delay in access returning to pre-COVID levels,” Vance said.
She’s not alone in her frustrations.
I know one the excuses @ParkBoard uses about these online booking is that it secures a spot for families or people coming from our places in the Lower Mainland but I feel citizens or taxpayers of Vancouver should be able to just show up and use our community centres and pools. 🤷♀️
— Mary Tataryn 🇨🇦 (@TatarynMary) June 25, 2025
First come first serve worked!
— jmaclennan msw rsw 🇨🇦 (@jmmaclennan1) June 26, 2025
Vance recently spoke to George Affleck, a former Vancouver city councillor, on a recent episode of the UnSpun Podcast about the inconvenience and how, before the reservation system, she’d be a daily swimmer at Kits Pool.
“It was like my church,” she said.
Jody Vance and her son circa 2008 at Kits Pool.
Since the changes, she has only been four times.
We put some of the concerns from Vancouverites to the Vancouver Park Board.
“As demand has steadily increased over the years, the online reservation system has become an essential tool for managing visitor volumes safely and efficiently. It also enhances the guest experience by allowing people to plan their visits with greater ease,” the Park Board told Daily Hive Urbanized.
The Kits Pool website says, “Advance reservation is not required but is recommended.”
Vance said that she has been turned away multiple times when attempting to visit without a booking. It’s hard for Vance to book in advance due to her schedule, a reality that others are likely facing as well.
“There is no way to plan days in advance when working shifts and juggling a little one,” she said.
We asked the Park Board about how many people it turns away who don’t pre-book.
“During peak periods and extreme heat events, high-demand sessions can fill quickly, which may limit access for drop-in visitors,” the Park Board said.
The Park Board also stated that “most users” report satisfaction with the system, but that it remains committed to making adjustments as needed.
“While we don’t yet have compiled data for this year, in 2024, only two days reached full reservation capacity across all sessions — indicating that availability was generally consistent,” it added.
Affleck shared his thoughts with Daily Hive Urbanized about the reservation system and his frustration with the Park Board.
“They say only two days hit full capacity this season, which kind of proves the point: the system isn’t working the way they think it is,” Affleck said.
He doesn’t agree with the sentiment that most users are satisfied.
“The reason it’s not filling up is probably because people aren’t bothering anymore. I’ve heard from so many friends — longtime swimmers — who just gave up trying to navigate the booking system. I don’t know who they’re polling, but most people I know hate it.”
He says that the system goes against the spirit of public amenities.
“Pools like Kits should be accessible, spontaneous, especially for families with young kids, seniors, people without reliable internet or smartphones. The idea that you need to plan a swim days in advance, or risk being turned away, just doesn’t sit right. It’s become a gated experience.”
But Affleck doesn’t think that the whole system should be completely done away with.
“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.
In terms of what’s next, Vance is actively engaging with Park Board officials to make the pool more accessible to everyone.
What are your thoughts on the reservation system at Vancouver pools? Do you agree it needs to be rolled back, resembling something closer to a first-come, first-served system? Do you like the reservation system?
Share your thoughts in the comments.
- You might also like:
- Public consultation begins on new replacement Kitsilano Outdoor Pool
- South Vancouver is being heard as swimming pool hopes surface
- Wave hello to Coquitlam's newly opened $32 million outdoor pool
Want to stay on top of all things Vancouver? Follow us on X