The Sockeyes Swim Club will be hosting a swim meet in June and would also like to offer camping.
Thomas Vicars, manager of the June 11 and 12 swim meet, wrote to Salmon Arm council asking if the club could once again have onsite camping near the recreation centre for up to 20 self-contained RVs. Campers would arrive July 10 after 3 p.m. and leave June 12 by 5:30 p.m.
“The camping we are to provide our swimming families is critical to the success of our meet. Many of the campers are volunteer officials and families that need to be close to the pool,” he wrote.
He explained the last time the club hosted a meet, the designated camping site was between the Shaw Centre’s Hucul Pond and the Trans-Canada Highway.
“This provided adequate space but was not a preferred site for our campers as it was noisy and they felt removed from the pool.”
Vicars said the preferred spot is between the pool and the curling rink in the rec centre parking lot.
Read more: In photos: Testing the waters
Read more: Campers upset neighbours
Read more: Swim club excited to launch into summer from new blocks at Salmon Arm pool
At city council’s May 9 meeting, council spoke favourably of approving the site the swim club was requesting.
Darby Boyd, manager of the Shuswap Recreation Society, said the Sockeyes have been running a successful swim meet since before he came to the community.
He said the club is extremely organized, equipped with barriers, parking attendants and a map to ensure camping spots are laid out without issue.
“To my knowledge there have been no problems.”
Boyd noted noise was a problem for nearby residents when another sports club had campers in the parking lot a few years ago without requesting the city’s permission.
He said the orchard land behind the pool was considered one year but it isn’t level.
Coun. Kevin Flynn said he’s seen swim meets in other communities and, in his opinion, the closer the campers are to the pool, the better.
Council voted unanimously to approve the camping request.
newsroom@saobserver.net
Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter and subscribe to our daily newsletter.