Broken glass closes outdoor pool at Culligan Water Park

The outdoor pool at the Memorial Centre, recently renamed as part of the Culligan Water Park, has been closed since Monday, Aug. 15, 2022, after a glass bottle was broken inside the pool enclosure.

In a statement, released on the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, the City of Kingston said that on the weekend, a glass bottle was brought onto the pool deck of Culligan Water Park, which resulted in its shattering on both the deck area and in the pool water.  

“After several cleaning attempts by the Aquatics team involving different mechanisms over the past three days, a decision was made in consultation with pool professionals to drain the entire pool to ensure the safety of all users and staff who work at Culligan Water Park,” said Darek Osostowicz, Aquatics Supervisor. 

The City said that pool draining started on the evening of August 15 and will take several days to finalize. A water company will be hired to complete the refill process.

In response to questions from Kingstonist regarding whether the person responsible for the broken glass will be penalized and what costs will be incurred by the City due to the closure, draining, and refilling of the pool, the City of Kingston provided a statement.

“Temporarily closing Culligan Water Park is a difficult decision, and a necessary one to ensure that safety for Aquatics staff and pool patrons remains a top priority. Staff have been evaluating the progress carefully and have taken the necessary steps, including fully draining the pool, to ensure that all the glass has been removed,” the statement from the City’s Department of Recreation and Leisure reads.

“The incident is being used as a teachable moment to remind staff and community members of safety measures. No penalties are being dispensed,” the statement continues.

“There have been no significant costs as much of the work has been performed internally by City staff. Safety protocols will be reviewed and reiterated to staff and community members using the water park. We understand the impact this closure has on pool patrons looking for a fun way to stay cool during the hot summer weather. We look forward to welcoming the community back safely later this week.”

According to the release, aquatics staff hope to welcome everyone back safely by Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022 and will share updates about reopening the water park on the City’s website and social media channels. 

Registered program participants with missed programming during the closure will be contacted by City staff, and the Memorial Centre splash pad remains open for use. View the hours of operation for all City aquatic facilities. 

City pools are operated according to provincial regulations for public swimming pools to ensure the safety of all users. The City asks pool users to prevent pool closures by following the Pool Rules.