The $600,000 investment into the Winkler Aquatic Centre will be on display to the public for the first time this week. The pool opens today after the swim season was cut short last year to make time for renovations.

"It's a huge investment into our community," Winkler Mayor Martin Harder says, one that included the addition of a climbing wall feature, a new pool liner, expanded kiddie pool area and other cosmetic improvements.

Friday, May 25 will also see free admittance, a way of saying "thank-you" after a premature closure in 2017.

"Thank you for waiting and having patience during the retrofit," Harder says.

Aquatic Programmer Danica MacDonald explains staff is excited to see the public's reaction to the renovations, "this year we have a new liner... one of the best in Manitoba."

Danica MacDonald, Aquatic Programmer

The new climbing wall is a unique feature, she says, adding the snack shack should keep customers fed.

She notes the water temperature has also been boosted to make swimming more attractive even on colder days.

The province also chipped in $37,713 under the Community Places Program

Work began in late summer 2017