Recently opened, the Regent Park Aquatic Centre is the Mercedes-Benz of public swimming pools in the GTA.
It's jaw-droppingly gorgeous for a public facility. The first time I came across this shining beacon, my friend and I were traveling west bound on Dundas street. To our right lay the mournful scene of a recent casualty of Toronto's shootings, camera vans everywhere. On the left, a sleek and powerful facade of zinc, cedar paneling and glass juts out of the distance. Through the exposed glass windows one could make out swimmers frolicking happily in the large pools. It was an odd, surreal juxtaposition especially given Regent Park's historical trappings, but my attention was easily captivated. I knew I had to swim there.
Inside, the facilities are no different. The space is bright, open and light. The front staff are friendly and there are often a couple at a time to service the patrons. What might surprise most pool goers however, are the universal change rooms. There is no segregation between the sexes so families and transgendered folks can all access the stark white and airy change rooms equipped with private cubicles for changing. There are two large change rooms but my quibble is that there are only six private cubicles in each. However, one will find plenty of lockers with varying volume to use, provided one brings their own lock. Another thoughtful touch are the hair dryers: arrayed at different heights on the walls for swimmers of all sizes.
The fancy schmancy futuristic designs does not mean the architects have skimped on the pragmatic stuff. Let's talk pools. The centre features a 25 meter lap pool, leisure pool for the kiddies, warm water pool with therapeutic jets, tarzan rope, diving boards and, AND! a sizable water slide. It's an aquatic bounty for pool goers. I like going for my lane swims which will set you back three fifty but I have also enjoyed my visits during the leisure swims. Naturally, the leisure pools will be teeming with kids and parents who will find it hard to resist the sprinklers and umbrella fountain. On the other side, the lane pool is split up into quadrants for various uses: a shallow end, a medium deep end, a deep end for diving and a deep end for users of the tarzan rope. Get up on one of the starting blocks, grab hold, swing, and bombs away!. I have to sheepishly admit I found both the tarzan rope and the water slide to be quite fun despite my adult age.
Regent Park has a background as a marginalized social-housing neighborhood teeming with drugs, violence and poverty. This aquatic centre is just part of many revitalization efforts for the area. From what I've seen so far, I'm tickled pink just to have a facility of this calibre in Toronto. Bring on the swimmers!