After a petition was launched online, Colwood’s Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre has agreed to reinstall recently-removed upper bench seating from the facility’s sauna.
The petition was launched over the weekend by Cody Rueger, who says that West Shore Park and Recreation made the wrong decision when they recently redesigned and renovated the rec centre’s sauna.
Though he loves the sauna and the community that gather there, by removing the upper bench Rueger asserts that people’s sauna experience was heavily impacted.
“The absence of varied bench heights compromises the efficiency and traditional experience a sauna is meant to provide,” he wrote in the petition.
“The heat in a sauna rises, and having those staggered seating options allows everyone to find their preferred comfort level, whether they choose higher temperatures on the top benches or gentler warmth below.”
Rueger added that everyone’s needs should be accommodated to ensure safety and enhance the wellness benefits for all patrons.
Since the petition went live, it has garnered 100 signatures; however, West Shore Park and Recreation told Victoria Buzz in an email that the organization has realized the fault in their design choices and will be reinstalling an upper bench soon.
“After a week of operating with our newly renovated sauna, we have had the opportunity to see it in use and have recognized we have made a mistake in our initial design,” said Simon Miles, communications representative for West Shore Park and Recreation.
“With the best intentions, we removed the upper bench to open up more seating but have come to understand this did not provide the accessibility and increased functional seating we had hoped for.”
The organization says they appreciate all the respectful, constructive feedback they have received and will reinstall the bench as soon as possible.
No timeline was given, but West Shore Park and Recreation assures its patrons that a plan is being developed.
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