Plans unveiled: Indoor pool added to Phase 2 of South Bowmanville Recreation Centre

A 25-metre aquatic facility has been added to the second phase of the long-awaited South Bowmanville Recreation Centre, with plans for the first phase unveiled to the public Monday.

Shovels are expected to hit the ground next spring on the $65 million first phase of the project, which will include a gymnasium, multi-purpose rooms for recreation programming and a FIFA-sized multi-sport dome with indoor walking track that can accommodate a variety of field sports. The design also features an outdoor skating trail (which will be the first in Clarington) that can be used in the warmer months as an outdoor community event space or a public market area, and a playground on the site, which is also already home to Clarington Fields.

The aquatic addition, which is included in Phase 2, will include a 25-metre main pool, a teaching pool, therapy pool and large viewing area among other features. The pool, with an estimated cost of $32 million, “is not a done deal yet,” cautioned Clarington Mayor Adrian Foster, who said staff is working on getting some provincial financing, but the plans are “so close we can taste it.”

The addition of the pool in Phase 2 comes as a result of the findings from Clarington’s draft Parks, Recreation and Culture Master Plan, which recommends an indoor aquatic centre for the spot, located near the Bowmanville Avenue exit on Highway 401.

“We know Clarington families will share our excitement about the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre plans. We’re thrilled to dive into planning a new pool in Bowmanville, and we’re looking forward to getting the Province on board to help make it happen. We can’t wait to start construction on this exciting project that will boost the health and well-being of our growing community,” said Foster.

The draft master plan discovered the local swim club is “experiencing pressure” from residents interested in joining the organization but is unable to accommodate new participants due to the lack of pool time, with a waitlist of potential participants.

Clarington finally signed off last October on construction on the South Bowmanville Recreation Centre, a project that had been on again, off again for more than six years because of rising construction and supply chain costs.

The project was actually approved in 2019 with a library built in (and a 25-metre pool being added in the second phase) but was put on hold last year when costs skyrocketed to $134 million – more than double the original estimate.

The South Bowmanville Recreation Centre is expected to open in summer 2026, with the aquatics centre to open at a later date.

Learn more about the project and view the renderings at www.clarington.net/SouthBowmanvilleRec.