City Council picked the most expensive of four options for Fort Saskatchewan’s new aquatic centre Tuesday, allowing the cost of the project to rise by $18 million.

The $72 million option chosen by Council calls for a lazy river and two water slides, a diving board and a water climb wall.

This proposal also includes two multi-use rooms, a 10-lane lap pool, proper competition swim blocks and additional parking at the Dow Centennial Centre site.

The new pool was estimated to cost $54 million when first proposed to the public in the 2024 census. The proposal received overwhelming support, receiving 6,393 positive responses to just 1,273 no votes.

Council rejected three cheaper options, the least-expensive of which was $63.5 million. This option would have still included one water slide, a small water play structure, a diving board and a rope swing. But it would not have included the lazy river or water wall, and would have an eight-lane, rather than 10-lane lap pool.

The two other options presented to Council included the lazy river and two water slides and most of the other water features of the top option. But these options did not include much additional parking, or other improvements to the Dow Centennial Centre.

The difference between the best pool and the cheapest amounts to only $25 a year in extra taxes for the average Fort homeowner, Councillor Birgit Blizzard noted. “Twenty-five dollars for a Cadillac version is a good deal.”

Mayor Gale Katchur also supported the choice. “I too, am of the opinion that if you build it, you build it right the first time.” She urged Council to do the same for the new fire hall. “I hope we have the same mindset when it comes to our decision on the second fire hall.”

Only Councillor Brian Kelly objected to the decision. "I'm not against the pool," he said. "I'm against spending for what we don't need."

Construction of the new pool is set to begin next year, with completion in 2029.