As a senior and a regular user of St. Albert recreation services I am not surprised to see that in the Servus Place facility many deficits have been identified. I use the gym every week and can relate to the overcrowding. However the biggest blunder is the aquatic area – that really does not lend itself well to lessons, programs or swimming of any significance.

For this reason I go to the poor-relation site – Fountain Park Recreation Centre, where approximately 1500 people a day use this facility. So I am begging the City of St. Albert to bring this facility into the 21st century while they are revamping our state of the art Servus facility. I know that the Fountain Park building is up to code – as public works will tell you – but it is outdated. Access is not easy; for example, there are sliding doors at Servus. To get in at the front door at Fountain Park you push on heavy doors or use the disabled button entrance. Mothers with young children also use this entrance method regularly – hence the disabled access is always being repaired because it is not really designed for this constant use. The cafeteria access point at the back door is even worse, with a whole collection of heavy doors. Not accessible for the disabled or user friendly for parents or tradesmen. This rear access is getting more use – because with the growing numbers at the pool parking is often at a premium.

I know that a couple of years ago the pools at Fountain Park were modernized but nothing else was given this treatment. The changing rooms and shower areas are desperately in need of a facelift. The lockers need to be changed – some cubicles do not lock properly, the showers have mildew in areas and regularly some are out of action – while the toilets leave a lot to be desired. With the numbers of small children using the facility, why are there no hand-held showerheads that a parent can use with a child? I have watched many children cringe as the hot water beats down on them. Many of them cannot reach the sinks to wash their hands.

Currently seniors are anticipating the day when the floors in the shower and change areas are treated with a material that will prevent them from slipping on the wet floors, a real hazard.

I am sure that if you took pictures of the different areas of Fountain Park you would see that this well-used facility needs some TLC. This may be the only reasonable aquatics facility in St Albert for years to come.

Elizabeth Allchin, St. Albert

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