Bumper summer for Golden Square Pool

VOLUNTEER-run Golden Square Pool has announced a record-breaking 2024/2025 with more than twenty thousand visits registered during the summer months for the first time, compared to 17,500 in the previous season.

Almost 200,000 people have now visited the pool since the local community saved it from closure in 2013, 2018, then permanently in 2020.

Popular events during the period included the New Year’s Eve Neighbourhood Party, Movie Night, Music by the Pool, and the Holi Festival of Colour.

The Pools for Paws doggo swimming program also took place over five days, with more than 330 canines participating.

Pool president and general manager Sam Kane said volunteers and staff were proud to have benefitted from strong community support season to season.

“Since 2013 over 255 volunteers have worked very hard to transform a once tired space into a vibrant and inclusive community hub for everyone,” he said.

“Despite an increasingly challenging operating environment, to see growth in patronage shows the community values public outdoor pools as places of connection and community that provide immense benefits for social, mental and physical health.

“And, it proves the strength of models such as ours.

“We were given a unique opportunity to take Golden Square Pool and create something remarkable – and from day one, we’ve used innovation to be more than just a traditional pool.

“There’s really nothing like what we’ve built here.

“Thank you to our members, community and partners for believing in our work and supporting us year after year.”