Children limited to designated swim times at Perth Parkside Hotel pool
PERTH — Changes to daytime access at the pool inside the Parkside Hotel and Spa are drawing mixed reactions from Perth residents, with some families saying the new rules leave them feeling excluded from a space many had come to rely on during the winter months.
The hotel recently introduced “quiet hours” at the pool from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., a move intended to create a calmer daytime environment for hotel and spa guests. While adults are still welcome to use the pool during those hours, children are now limited to designated family swim times outside the quiet-hour window.
Brian Mulville, operations manager at the Parkside Hotel, said the pool remains open daily from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., but the daytime adjustment is meant to balance the needs of guests seeking a relaxing spa experience.
“We are a spa and hotel, and we’re trying to give our guests that quiet relaxation time that they’ve booked,” Mulville said. “It’s something we’re trying out right now.”
The pool was originally designed for hotel and spa guests, according to general manager Tanya Jamieson. Several years ago, the hotel began offering memberships and day passes to the wider community after hearing concerns that the municipal pool’s water temperature was too cold for some swimmers.
“Over time, the demand for the space has grown significantly,” Jamieson said. “During busy periods, the volume of users has created challenges for both our guests and our staff, and we have received consistent feedback from hotel and spa guests requesting a quieter and more relaxing environment during the day.”
Jamieson said the new schedule is intended to balance hotel guests, spa visitors, members, and families while ensuring the space remains safe and enjoyable.
“Families are still welcome to use the pool during designated family swim hours, and children of hotel guests and members continue to have access,” she said, noting the pool remains part of a private hospitality facility.
Still, the change has frustrated some parents who had become regular users of the pool during the winter months.
Perth resident Deanna Berry said many families relied on the facility as an alternative to the municipal pool.
“MANY members of the community use this pool, particularly in the winter with their children,” Berry said. “A lot of us are feeling excluded, but also confused.”
She added that many residents have supported the hotel in other ways and see it as an important part of the community.
“We get our hair done there. We use the spa. We’ve had massages there. I’ve had pedicures there,” Berry said. “Our family comes from out of town, and they stay at that hotel because it’s a beautiful hotel in the middle of town that has a pool and all these amenities that we love to use as a community.”
While acknowledging the hotel is a private business, Berry said she hopes there may be room for greater flexibility.
“Yes, they’re private, but I still think they’re a big part of the community,” she said. “I just kind of wish there was a little bit more balance, a little bit more flexibility.”
Another resident, Brittany Grayson, said she shares similar concerns and echoed Berry’s view that many families feel a strong connection to the hotel and its amenities.
“I have always considered your hotel a family-friendly, warm and welcoming space,” Grayson said in correspondence with the hotel. “I have now come to see that this is unfortunately no longer the case.”
Grayson said the restricted hours make it difficult for many families to realistically use the pool, particularly for young children with fixed routines.
“It makes it challenging to find a comfortable swimming pool during the winter months,” she said.
The discussion has also renewed attention on the town’s public swimming facility.
According to Cathy McNally, director of community services for the Town of Perth, the municipal pool is typically maintained between 80 and 82 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature is set to accommodate a wide range of users, including competitive swimmers, recreational swimmers and aquatic fitness participants.
“Pool temperatures are adjusted as needed,” McNally said. “However, we aim to maintain a temperature that balances the needs of all groups.”
Chlorine levels are maintained within the provincial health regulation range of 2.0 to 5.0 parts per million to ensure the water remains safe and sanitary, she added.
McNally said the town occasionally receives feedback about the water temperature but is not aware of recent concerns regarding chlorine levels.
Looking ahead, the possibility of a warmer therapeutic pool may be part of discussions with neighbouring municipalities about a potential regional recreation complex.
“While no decisions have been made, the concept of a smaller therapeutic or warm-water pool has been identified as a potential feature worth exploring during the feasibility study process,” McNally said.
For now, the Parkside Hotel says the quiet-hour policy is an operational trial as it works to balance growing demand with the expectations of its guests, while some local families say they hope a compromise can still be found that keeps the pool accessible to the wider community.
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