Windsor Water World to remain open

 

by Evan Mathias

 

Windsor City Council has decided to keep Windsor Water World open until June to give time to groups using the facility to find a new home.

Despite administrations recommendation to close the facility council voted in favour of keeping the centre open for half of the year while managing to not increase the overall budgeted tax levy.

Water World’s pool has been closed for nearly a year, but the gymnasium and meeting rooms have stayed open for fitness classes and after school programs for kids.

Council’s vote to keep Water World open was a close to home decision for Ward 2 councillor John Elliott.

“For me it goes way back. I grew up playing down there,” said Elliott. “It kept me off the streets and out of trouble.”

The Chief Financial Officer for the City of Windsor, Onorio Colucci said that while keeping Water World open will cost the city money, council kept the municipal tax levy the same as last year, which he said was the goal.

“The estimate was approximately $315,000 for a full year, so if it stays open for a half a year it would be a half of that which would be $157,000 or so,” said Colucci.

The money wasn’t an object for Elliott who stressed the importance of having after-school programs in the Glengarry area.

“As adults we can decide, right here and right now what seeds we want to plant in the young peoples minds… sometimes it’s not about the dollars. It’s about the kids,” said Elliott. “Whats it doing? Keeping them off the street and out of trouble.”

He mentioned how much of a negative impact not having those programs and that facility would have.

“All of a sudden you close it up, where do the kids have to go? No where, they’re in the streets, now they’re in trouble,” said Elliott.

Once Water World is closed in June, the land will be redeveloped.

According to Colucci the City is in discussions with the Windsor Essex Catholic District School board.

“There is that potential, we’ll have to wait and see the outcome of those discussions,” said Colucci

Elliott added that the WECDSB could be redeveloping Water World with the possibility of moving Catholic Central High School to that location.

Elliott said the City should work with whoever decides to redevelop the property in order to keep community programs running.

“All in all there needs to be something in place around that area for kids after school to do. They have to have somewhere to go,” said Elliott. “Let’s say the school gets the go ahead to be built, let’s work with the school board in having something where there’s an after school portion for those kids. Let’s talk to the school, let’s do it now, so we’re planning for the future.”