After over a year of fundraising and construction, the new Paly pool is finally scheduled to be completed by the end of the winter holidays.
The 30-meter by 25-yard competition pool differs from the old one in ways other than just size. A new addition includes landscaping donated by Deke Rowell, a Paly aquatic alumnus from the Class of 1983. A lawn will cover the slope on the side by the girls’ locker room, along with an array of plants inside and outside the entrance gates to the pool.
"I am really excited about the new pool," sophomore JV swimmer and waterpolo player Jackie Chesson said. "Last year it was hard in such a small pool. There weren’t enough lanes for practice, and only one waterpolo game could be played at a time."
The pool was originally scheduled to be completed Nov 15, but, according to Barb Champion, a Paly parent and ACCEL Foundation coordinator for the project, the delay is due to late deliveries caused in part by hurricane Katrina and Rita, rainy weather, scheduling of subcontractors and other minor delays.
Champion said she and others managing the project felt it was more important to make sure everything was done properly instead of rushing through construction to achieve the target date. Although the water is in the pool, it is not ready for use. Besides the heater not being turned on and the water being 50 degrees, some essentials are still missing. An additional $200,000 dollars out of the original price tag still needs to be raised for deck lighting, a scoreboard, bleachers, pool covers, reels, and diving boards.
According to Champion, some pool fundraisers include custom engraved bricks that can be purchased for $500 each. The bricks will be installed on the pool deck at both entrances. Donations of $1,000 or more will be recognized on a plaque, and donors can name a lane for $20,000 or a diving board for $25,000.
Before the pool can be used, cleanup must be done, mechanical rooms have to be painted, and new asphalt between the pool and the big gym has to be installed.
The Paly water polo teams have been using the Stanford pool in the meantime. "The Stanford pool is fine but it will be nice having our own pool," junior Natasha Whitney said. "[During waterpolo season] we had to practice from 7 to 9 at night, which sucked."
Whitney says she speaks for her teammates when she says a new pool will be much appreciated.