Many areas of the City of Windsor's parks and recreation department continue to face repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multiple aquatic facilities like Adventure Bay and the Gino Marcus pool remain shuttered and only a sprinkling of the usual programming is being offered right now.
However, Executive Director for Recreation and Culture Jen Knights says residents will start seeing more programming come back online in the new year.
"Our intent in January is to resume reserve learn to swim programming, which some municipalities have started sooner. We're gradually reoffering it as we've been onboarding and retraining and recertifying our staff," said Knights.
Knights said they have not seen a large uptake in the programming offered in the fall and they will expand offerings as demand increases.
In the meantime, the closed facilities are being maintained so they will be ready to come back online when the time comes.
Capacity limits and a low supply of certified lifeguards have been the major roadblocks to reopening the water park.
"We continue to look ahead and plan, but I don't have a reopening timeline right now. But we know that there are people who are interested and anxious," said Knights.
All of the maintenance costs and the continued closure is having an effect on the city's bottom line. For 2022, the City of Windsor has budgeted $25 million in unfunded pandemic related costs, this maintenance is included in that deficit.