Edmonton's oldest outdoor pool should be rebuilt as part of another major recreation centre just down the road, city officials recommended Thursday.

A major leak shut down Edmonton's Queen Elizabeth Pool in 2004.
(CBC)

The Queen Elizabeth Pool was built in 1922, but was forced to close in 2004 due to a major leak in its aging concrete structure.

Supporters of the pool convinced city council to commit $4.1 million to revamp it, but costs skyrocketed to $8.1 million when the project was tendered last year, mainly because of the complexities of rebuilding on the current site's sloping ground in the River Valley.

City staff suggest abandoning the redevelopment plan in favour of building a new outdoor pool next to the Kinsmen Sports Centre, which includes an Olympic-size indoor pool and running track, to bring down the cost of construction.

The proposal was included in a report to city council's community services committee released Thursday.

John Stobbe, vice-president of The Friends of the Queen Elizabeth Pool Society, said he's pleased that plans for an outdoor pool are still afloat.

"Outdoor water experience is different from the indoor," said Stobbe. "As the city grows and there are more and more families coming to the city, we need to be able to provide that experience for kids."

The city council committee will discuss the recommendation on Jan. 7.