I loved the 1966 photo in last month’s Leaside Life showing three-year-old Mitch Bubulj at the old Trace Manes wading pool. It triggered fond memories of when I would take my daughter, Maddy, there 20 years ago. It also got me thinking about the pool’s history, which goes back much further than either Mitch or I can remember.
The pool had been operating since at least 1946, when it was featured in the July 23 issue of the Toronto Telegram as part of a story about the proposed Leaside Community Centre planned for the corner of Millwood Road and McRae Drive. While the Community Centre never materialized at that location (the project eventually became Leaside Memorial Community Gardens at Millwood Road and Laird Drive), the Millwood wading pool (as it was known) was hugely popular. Deeper than many ordinary wading pools and staffed by trained lifeguards, it was used in the late 1940s to teach children the basics of swimming.
It was also the setting for many contests and exhibitions. At the end of August 1947, local children marked the seasonal closing of the pool by using it to display their swimming and floating skills. As time went on, these and other exhibits evolved into something much more elaborate, known as “the Big Splash.”
Begun in the early 1950s by the Leaside Recreation Department, the Big Splash was a one-day event, held every July or August. It involved food, games, contests, prizes and the opportunity for the kids to cool off by splashing around for a few hours.
The highlight of the day was the awarding of prizes in a variety of categories. Girls competed for such titles as Miss Blue Eyes, Miss Brown Eyes, Miss Wading Pool, Miss Freckles and Miss Pig Tails. Boys received awards with names like Mr. Muscles Jr., Mr. Muscles Sr., Mr. Suntan and Mr. Crew Cut.
By the end of the decade, the Big Splash had run its course. But the wading pool continued to serve Leasiders well into the 21st century. The facility was not, however, without problems. In the 1970s, complaints arose that dog-owners were using the wading pool to wash their pets. Others grumbled that the water was always too cold. And as late as 2017, pool openings were being delayed because of maintenance issues.
In 2021, the wading pool was officially replaced by a state-of the art splash pad, part of a wonderful new playground complex built to honour the memory of Georgia Walsh, the young Leaside girl tragically killed in a car accident at Millwood and McRae in July 2014.
The wading pool may be gone, but it still evokes memories. The Trace Manes wading pool certainly left its mark on our community – a fond reminder, for many, of growing up in Leaside.
