A reconsideration motion set to go before a council committee on Thursday aims to keep Calgary’s Inglewood Aquatic Center open, at least for a few more years.

A motion from councilors. Sonya Sharp and André Chabot want council to reconsider its decision last month to close the community pool at the end of this year.

“We want to give the community more options and time to use the facilities for physical activities, swimming and mental health and make it work until it’s no longer possible,” said Councilor Sharp. from district 1.

A city report recommended closing the facility due to its aging infrastructure. The Inglewood pool is one of more than a dozen city facilities in need of major electrical repairs, officials said.

The cost to repair the Inglewood pool building would run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars and could take three months.

“We’ve heard a lot from a lot of residents. They’re concerned about access, affordability and they need to at least make sure there’s something nearby until the new facilities are completed,” said Coun. Sculpin.

The proposed notice of motion wants the Inglewood facility to remain open until at least 2026, when improvements to the MNP Center are expected to be completed.

Community members are hosting a rally at City Hall on Friday at 3 p.m. and another “Save the Pool” event in Ironwood at noon on November 10.

“So I think there’s a lot of people talking about the pool. You know, our density is increasing and it’s just it’s really short-sighted (to close it),” said Fiona McKenzie, organizer of the pool. a petition to save the swimming pool. .

The motion, which must go before Calgary’s executive committee, calls on administration to find $350,000 to cover “only what is urgent and critical to operations” and an additional $400,000 per year for operating costs.

Because the motion is a reconsideration, it would require the support of two-thirds of the council instead of a simple majority. After passing the committee stage, the funding discussion will go to the council’s debate on mid-cycle budget adjustments at the end of the month.