More than 300 people attended the Grand Reopening of W.W. Emmons Natatorium on Sept. 24. The community event included remarks by district leaders, a ribbon cutting ceremony, public tours and student exhibitions.
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Dozens of student swimmers and divers plunged into the renovated pool at 10404 Tiger Trail immediately after the ribbon cutting. A diving exhibition, high school relays and Big Splash Contest capped the evening’s event.
Superintendent of Schools Duncan Klussmann said that the pool renovations were a good deal for the district. Due to the discovery of an extensive pool leak, repairs and pool replacement began immediately in March rather than wait for the original scheduled renovation in 2011.
Another event speaker, SBISD Athletics Executive Director L.P. Jones, said after the event that the evening was a big community hit.
“The reopening of the Natatorium was a great success,” he said. “The students were thrilled with their new facilities and enjoyed having the chance to compete in the new pool. Parents and staff alike were so pleased with the renovations that they vowed to bring friends and ex-swimmers back to the Natatorium to show them this ‘like new’ facility.”
“We ended up spending about $3 million on a project that would cost $17 to $20 million if a new natatorium was built today,” Dr. Klussmann said.
Repairs and renovations were funded through the district’s $597.1 million Bond Plan. Voters approved by a large margin ambitious school rebuilding and facility renovations two years ago.
Built in 1975, the Natatorium includes an eight-lane competition swimming pool that holds 500,000 gallons of water.
During renovation, the depth of the shallow end was increased from four to six feet for competitive swimmers and to meet current standards.
Other improvements included removal of the exterior garage-style rolling doors; new ventilation, air-conditioning and heating systems; a new roof; renovated locker rooms; new public restrooms; three concrete diving boards (one is 3 meters, two are 2 meters); telescoping deck bleachers; new security cameras and locks; and the relocation of the mechanical room to the ground level from its previous underground location.
As the district’s only pool facility, the Natatorium is designed to be used by swimmers of all ages – from high school swim and dive team practices to recreational uses by community members and families.
“One of the goals of the SBISD Five-Year Educational Plan is to offer all students a wide range of school-sponsored activities outside of the classroom. Our athletic facilities are major venues that provide an opportunity to teach life skills that we often can’t do in the classroom and that enable our students to compete with their peers and achieve their highest potential,” SBISD Board of Trustees Vice President Mary Grace Landrum said in special remarks on behalf of the Board.
“I am sure that teacher, coach and then longtime Spring Woods High School Principal W.W. “Red” Emmons, for whom this facility is named, would be as proud of this facility as the current Trustees are,” she also said.
“Thanks to all of you for your hours of hard work, attention to detail and for enabling us to give our students a venue to showcase their skills and one that the community can all enjoy as well.”