Aquatic Programs
The City of Woodstock offers registered and drop in programs at several different aquatic facilities, including an indoor pool that is open year round, and an outdoor pool, a water park and two splash pads that are open seasonally.
Please note: Lions Pool will not open for Summer 2023. Find details below.
Swim Lessons and Programming
Recreational Swimming
Aqua Fitness
Wading Pool and Splashpad
Southside Aquatic Centre
Located at 315 Finkle Street, Southside Aquatic Centre offers an "L" shaped 25m six-lane section and a 10m by 10m deep end, with diving board, pool lift and sauna. There are three change-room options; family, men's, and ladies. Upstairs is a meeting room and viewing area. You can contact the pool at 519-539-2382 ext. 2701.
Summer 2023 Drop-in Swim Schedule
Amenities offered at Southside Aquatic Centre include:
- Swim Lessons and Programming
- Recreational Swimming including Public Swims and Lane Swimming
- Aquatic Fitness
- Sauna
- Room Rental Space Available
Southside Aquatic Centre Building Hours
Monday-Thursday 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday - Sunday 6:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lions Pool
Please note: Lions Pool did not open for 2023. Located at 245 Vansittart Avenue, Lions Pool is an outdoor built in 1947, that has offered recreational swimming, swimming lessons, and a highly successful swim team during July and August each year.
Lions Pool Closure
During the opening inspections of Lions Pool, staff discovered the liner was torn. Rather than just fixing the torn liner with no guarantee there aging pool could still open, Council directed staff to complete an assessment and cost estimate to complete all the renovations needed for Lions Pool to continue to meet the community's needs into the future. Based on the information staff brought back to Council, they decided to permanently close Lions Pool (which was already scheduled to close as early as 2025) and proceed with the development of a new outdoor pool at Cowan Fields (1495 Devonshire Ave.)
- July 13, 2023 Council Report
- Council Highlights News Release - summarizing Council's decision
- Watch the July 13 Council Meeting
Frequently Asked Questions - Lions Pool
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What is the issue at Lions Pool? |
| During the opening inspections of the pool in May 2023, staff discovered the liner was torn in several places. The liner would need to be replaced in order for the pool to hold water and complete the rest of the opening activities. Council directed staff to do further analysis of what other upgrades are needed rather than rushing to fix what might potentially be one of several issues. |
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Is Lions Pool closed permanently? |
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Yes. At their July 13 meeting, Council voted in favour of closing Lions Pool ahead of schedule. At the June 1 meeting, Council directed staff to investigate what renovations would be needed and what the cost would be to allow Lions Pool to continue to meet the community's needs into the future. Based on the information staff brought back, Council decided it was better to proceed with the development of the new outdoor pool that had already been included in the capital budget, rather than continue to invest in the aging Lions Pool. |
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With Lions Pool not opening this summer, where can families swim? |
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Southside Aquatic Centre offers public swims 7 days a week and adult and child swim on Tuesday and Thursday. Families can also cool off and have fun at our Spray and Play Wading Pool that opened June 30 or at one of our two free splash pads. |
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What will happen to all the programs that were supposed to run at Lions Pool this summer? |
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Lions Pool offers lessons, drop-in swims (including lane, public and aquafit), the summer swim team and the pool is also used by the city’s camp programs during the months of July and August. Approximately 40 people access the drop-in programs each day. Staff is currently working on a transition plan to accommodate all the programs from Lions at Southside Aquatic Centre. The updated swim schedule will be posted at www.cityofwoodstock.ca/aquatics once finalized. Council also voted to waive the admission rates for the Spray and Play Wading Pool at Southside Park for the 2023 season so that families could enjoy this facility for free. |
| Can the liner be repaired? |
| Yes, it was possible to repair the liner, however there are limited number of contractors who offer municipal pool PVC liner repairs and replacement. Staff reached out to five contractors, four would not provide a quote and could not start work on this project until August, at the earliest. The fifth provided two quotes, one to repair the liner without a warranty, the second to replace the full liner with a 15-year warranty. |
| Why is it so expensive to replace the liner? |
| Unlike the liner in most private pools, which are typically vinyl, a liner intended for municipal use is made of commercial grade PVC. Lions Pool is also approximately 10 to 15 times the size of a typical backyard pool. |
| Why is the City not fixing the liner? |
| Given the overall state of the liner, staff suggested that replacing the full liner was the more appropriate approach if that was the direction Council wanted to go. The cost to replace the full liner came in at $226,915. However, there would still be a possibility that the pool could not open this season given the age and condition of the pipes, which can only be tested once the pool is filled. |
| How did the pool get to the point of being in such bad condition it can’t open? |
| Lions Pool is more than 75 years old and has undergone regular maintenance and upgrades as needed since then. As identified in the 2021 Recreation Facility Needs Study, Council approved in principle a plan to decommission Lions Pool and build a new outdoor pool facility (which is in the capital budget forecast for 2025). As a result, staff has been completing regular maintenance and undertaking minor upgrades as required to support the operation of Lions Pool until that time. |
| How can I get updates about this project? |
| Our website allows users to subscribe to individual pages. Use the Receive Email Updates button at the bottom of this page to get an email when new information is posted. You can also follow us on our Facebook, Instagram or Twitter pages. |
Spray & Play Wading Pool
Our spray and play wading pool offers a supervised children's shallow water play facility with a wading pool, splash and spray structure, slide, and dry land playground. There are also picnic tables, an observation deck, and snack booth on-site.
NEW for 2023!
Council voted in favour of offering free admission to the wading pool since Lions Pool will not be opening for Summer 2023. Normal admission is $3 for children and free for adults.
For more information on the City of Woodstock's Wading Pool and Splash Pads.
Frequently Asked Questions
| What recreational programs will be offered? |
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Please visit the following pages for program information: |
| Do I have to register in advance? |
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To guarantee entry, we recommend that swimmers continue to book in advance. Drop in entry is permitted if space is available. |
| What measures/procedures are in place to ensure my safety? |
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To ensure the health and safety of staff and participants, increased cleaning measures are occurring in accordance with Parks and Recreation Department Standard Operating Procedures. |
| What equipment will be available? |
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Equipment will be permitted for use and will be cleaned and sanitized by staff daily. |
| How many people are allowed to swim? |
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The Ontario government has removed any capacity limits and we have also increased our program capacity to reflect that. |
| Will I have access to the changerooms? |
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All changerooms, showers, and lockers are now available for use. |
| Do I already have an online account? |
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Visit our online registration platform using your email address to see if you already have an account. If you can't remember your password, you can use the "reset password" button to complete your account setup. If that does not work, or if you don't believe you have an account with the City, please email or contact 519-539-2382 x 2701. |
2023 Seasonal Closures
- New Year's Day - Sunday, Jan. 1
- Family Day - Monday, Feb. 20
- Good Friday - Friday, April 7
- Easter Sunday - Sunday, April 9
- Easter Monday - Monday, April 10
- Victoria Day - Monday, May 22
- Canada Day - Saturday, July 1
- Civic Holiday - Monday Aug. 7
- Labour Day - Monday, Sept. 4
- Thanksgiving - Monday, Oct. 9
- Christmas Day - Monday, Dec. 25
- Boxing Day - Tuesday, Dec. 26
