Photo by Jason Cramp

The town of Whitby will use $3.5 million in funding from the Canada-Ontario infrastructure stimulus program to improve accessibility at the Anne Ottenbrite pool.

Several changes will be made to modernize a 35-year-old swimming pool in the town of Whitby, Ont., after a total of $3.5 million in funding was approved for the project under the Canada-Ontario infrastructure stimulus program.

According to a report on newsdurhamregion.com, improvements at the Anne Ottenbrite pool, located at the Iroquois Park Sports Centre, will be aimed at modernizing the facility by improving entry and access to the pool deck and change rooms, as well as introducing natural light into the pool area.

Originally built in 1975, the 25-m (82-ft), six-lane indoor pool is not designed to today's standards, which permit access for those with special needs.

"(This project) is very much about accessibility," Peter Lebel, Whitby's director of community and marketing services, said in the report. "We have incorporated a significant amount of design aspects to address that particular area."

Funding for the project will be split evenly between the federal, provincial and municipal governments, with each contributing a little more than $1 million. Renovations are to start in July and expected to be completed by March 2011.