We're creating a new, innovative outdoor swimming space at Waterfront Park, in the City of North Vancouver. The first of its kind in B.C., Harbour Swimming Deck will provide safe, accessible, and free public access to the Burrard Inlet.
The Harbour Swimming Deck was made possible through a partnership with the national charitable organization Swim Drink Fish, supported by a generous donation from the Weston family and additional funding from the City of North Vancouver.
About the Design
While the design is in the early concept stage, the future structure will have features that prioritize livability and accessibility along with the City's vision of becoming the healthiest small city in the world. The City will lead community engagement as part of the design process going forward. The deck will include:
- Generous, protected swimming areas
- An accessible shallow pool
- 50-metre swim lanes
- Diving platforms
- Lounging and seating area
- Accommodates up to 400 people
About the Project
This flagship project was announced on November 3rd, 2025 alongside the launch of the WAVE Prize – a new Swim Drink Fish-led initiative to increase public access to urban swimmable waters in B.C. This project will create much-needed public space and stand as a powerful example of how thoughtful investment can reclaim urban waterfronts and bring swimmable, inclusive spaces back to city life.
Construction will begin in the spring of 2026 with an expected opening in spring of 2027.
Project Budget
The project has been made possible through a $16 million donation from the Weston family to Swim Drink Fish. The City of North Vancouver is contributing $5 million in capital funding, staff resources to manage implementation; and ongoing responsibility for the operation and maintenance of the deck.
Because the project is at the feasibility and concept stage, the actual costs to operate and maintain this infrastructure will become clearer as the technical work advances. At this stage we are looking at an estimated cost of $500K a year, which will include staffing, security, safety, physical maintenance, and needed amenities like change and washrooms.
Project Timeline
We anticipate that construction will begin in spring 2026 with an expected opening in 2027.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to swim in Burrard Inlet?
The proposed area is zoned for recreational use, and as such, a swim deck is considered appropriate for the site by all the authorities that manage these waters. This project is also built on two years of water quality testing by Swim Drink Fish. The results show it has been consistently suitable for swimming. The site’s water quality has consistently met or exceeded the standards for swimming established by Health Canada’s Guidelines for Canadian Recreational Water Quality and the Province of British Columbia’s Recreational Water Quality Guidelines.
The swimming structure will be designed to minimize contact with boat traffic and debris, providing a well-managed and carefully monitored setting for public recreation within Burrard Inlet.
What kind of testing has been done?
For the past two summers Swim Drink Fish has conducted bacterial testing to assess the day-to-day suitability of the water for recreation. Bacterial indicators (E. coli) are the most relevant measure for swimmer health and e. coli levels were consistently well below the threshold of 200 CFU/100 mL. Testing included wet and dry weather and high and low tides, confirming stable, reliable results.
Media Kit