Maple Ridge makes free Hammond Pool admission permanent after attendance surge
Maple Ridge residents will be able to keep taking free dips at Hammond Outdoor Pool every summer.
Council unanimously voted May 26 to make last year’s pilot program permanent, after the pool saw attendance surge and families flock to the city-run facility.
Mayor Dan Ruimy enthusiastically backed the initiative.
“Love it, love it, love it,” he said. “When we talk about affordability, little things like this can help with families in our community.”
Council’s decision makes free public drop-in swimming for Maple Ridge residents an ongoing annual program after city staff reported the 2025 initiative increased participation, lowered barriers to recreation and generated overwhelmingly positive community feedback.
Registered programs, rentals and special events will still require paid admission.
Staff told council the initiative was designed to improve public health, strengthen neighbourhood connections and make recreation more accessible during the summer months – goals they say were largely achieved in its first season.
Residents verified their eligibility using the city’s “MR Proud” stickers, with more than 2,000 distributed to residents last year.
“This initiative traded a modest financial impact for a significant increase in community access, participation and public benefit,” said Maple Ridge Leisure Centre manager Jamie Ayson-Banico.
Attendance at the outdoor pool jumped to 8,322 visits in 2025, up from 5,913 visits the previous year – a roughly 41 percent increase. Staff said this bump suggests admission costs had been a barrier for some families.
Staff noted attendance climbed by the thousands once free admission was introduced.
Coun. Korleen Carreras said the increase showed the program was achieving exactly what council hoped for, adding the expanded Aqua Fit programming brought in additional revenue to offset the free admissions.
“I’m so glad we did this. Obviously, cost is a barrier for kids, and to see that more people were enjoying the pool is really what we were getting out of it,” she said.
The program wasn’t without costs. Staff reported admission revenue dropped from $13,270 in 2024 to $5,791 in 2025, while additional lifeguard staffing cost another $7,934 to handle increased attendance and expanded programming hours.
Altogether, the financial impact of the program totalled about $15,400. That revenue reduction has already been factored into the city’s 2026 financial plan.
Despite the additional costs, staff argued the benefits outweighed the financial tradeoffs, noting they were able to manage higher attendance without limiting access by increasing staffing during busy periods and expanding weekend swim hours.
Staff warned demand could rise even further this summer as awareness grows, with time-limited sessions remaining an option if capacity becomes an issue.
Council also heard about the pool’s first-ever “Pups in the Pool” event held after the final public swim of the season, which attracted 36 dogs and drew strong community feedback. Staff said the event ran smoothly and could return in future years.
Mayor Ruimy had one additional request related to the Pups in the Pool event.
“On doggy day, could you not do it on a council day? Piper would love to attend, and we’ll make sure she has the shark fin on their back.”
Hammond Outdoor Pool is scheduled to reopen weekends beginning June 6 before moving to daily operations starting June 28.
