Mundy Park Pool

Breathing new life into a much-loved, but ageing swimming facility, the renewal of Mundy Park Pool for the City of Coquitlam, demonstrates how civic vision can create an enduring space that meets evolving community needs.

Summary: Outdoor pool
Location: Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada
Client: City of Coquitlam
Size: 3713m²
Completion: 2025

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Vision

After over half a century of public use, the pool’s infrastructure had grown tired and prompted the City to initiate its renewal. The design team’s ambition for Mundy Park Pool was to set a new standard for community-focused recreation – shaping a durable, inclusive facility for the future while preserving its legacy: its simplicity, openness and deep connection to the surrounding forest.

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Reuse, renew, reimagine

In the early 1970s, the City of Coquitlam built a community pool at the forest edge of the 176 hectare Mundy Park.

This outdoor setting created a unique experience where recreation and nature met, creating an opportunity for people to swim while surrounded by mature trees. The reimagined facility has been built on the original site footprint, intentionally retained to minimise disruption to the surrounding landscape, with tree and topography protection zones carefully mapped and respected throughout the project.

Transitioning from Coquitlam’s residential areas towards the wildness of the urban forest feels welcoming and intuitive. As visitors approach the new entrance plaza, its opening gently reveals what’s inside: glimpses of water features, sunlight reflecting off the pools and laughter echoing in the air.

A new leisure pool and warming pool complement the 25m lap pool, which was refurbished to reduce material use and embodied carbon waste. This program mix enables the venue to accommodate both leisure and competition aquatic activity, enhancing social function and commercial value.

A large, landscaped lawn captures the calm of the vast surrounding forest and provides a more serene experience away from the pools with shaded picnic areas and comfortable spaces to gather. A new amenities building feels similarly grounded in the forest and visually connected to the pools. Civic but calm, robust but inviting, it houses the changing rooms, staff facilities and multipurpose areas. This is a place for communities to gather. Built to be welcoming, social, inclusive, and sustainable for decades to come.

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“It’s rare to find an outdoor pool that offers the comfort, accessibility, and usability of an indoor facility. What really makes Mundy Park Pool stand out is its location right at the edge of the forest. Swimming here, surrounded by trees and fresh air, is something pretty special.”

Sabrina Hoeck
Associate, Architect AIBC

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Accessibility and inclusivity

Connected to Coquitlam’s trail network, the site offers improved pedestrian access and an accessible route to the main entry. Designed to achieve Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Gold Certification, universal design is incorporated throughout. Inclusive pool access is provided by ramps, beach entries and transfer ledges. The community’s desire for changing room flexibility was accounted for with a larger, universal changing room and separate men’s and women’s changing areas, supported by accessible washrooms and adult change tables. Outside of swim season, the exterior accessible public washroom remains open.

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Universal Design

Almost everyone is likely to experience a form of temporary or permanent disability. Design should reflect this.

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Cultural recognition

Mundy Park has always been a place of connection between people and nature. It is located on the traditional, unceded territory of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation; a landscape where people lived, gathered, and cared for the forest and its lakes.

Collaboration with the Kwikwetlem First Nation integrated cultural guidance and art to the facility, including ‘Circle of Life’ plaza features and a Great Blue Heron carving by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation artist Rosalie Dipcsu. These features honour the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm people, their ancestors, and their enduring connection to the land and water.

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Materials

A palette balancing warmth and durability: wood elements echo the forest, red accents reflect native berries, and fluted concrete walls paired with local cedar evoke natural textures.

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Sustainability

The facility prioritises sustainability through energy-efficient, low-carbon systems. Its flexible hybrid energy system, including electric air source heat pumps and a high-efficiency gas boiler, heats the pool, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by roughly 93% (from 290 to 19 tCO₂e/year) supports the City’s climate goals. Every design goal balanced nostalgia with innovation, and community with climate responsibility.