The day after Christmas, officials at the University of Georgia released its decision to stand by its plan to demolish Legion Pool, a swimming pool that has been a place for summer splashes and dives since 1936.
Now on the verge of turning 90 years old, UGA reports it still plans to demolish the pool and replace it with an outdoor recreational spot with seating and standing room that can accommodate about 4,600 people.
The 150-foot-long pool — not visible from the roadways — is located off South Lumpkin Street near Baxter Street.
A statement from UGA that was packed with reasons to support the demolition was crafted by the UGA Marketing & Communications and released by James Hataway, the Tennessee native who is senior director for Integrated Media Communications.
The design for the location, which includes expansion of the Legion Field green space and an additional 70 parking spaces for students, attracted opposition from many in the community who felt UGA should preserve and upgrade the swimming pool that some felt had historic merit for Athens.
In the decision, Michelle Cook, vice president of student affairs, said in a prepared statement that “after carefully reviewing the facility’s long-term sustainability, the costs required to address significant maintenance needs and the feedback we received through the (Georgia Environmental Policy Act) process, we believe this plan is the best path forward for our students and our campus.”
A campus group chaired by Eric Atkinson, Dean of Students, also recommended that the site be “reimagined,” according to the release.
As it has in previous statements, UGA noted the costs for maintaining the pool, which it described as a financial loss with deficits since 2013 being funded through Student Activity Fees. UGA acquired the pool in the 1970s.
The statement contends there is a low use of the pool by students without addressing complaints by pool supporters that UGA has in recent years only opened the pool after the spring semester and closed it before the start of the fall semester. UGA reported that students prefer pools at apartment complexes and avoid the mix of children and older adults.
The statement goes further, showing that Athens-Clarke County operates five public pools that operate on about the same schedule as Legion Pool. It also notes how unique the standalone Legion Pool is among universities in the Southeastern Conference. Outdoor pools at nine other institutions operate alongside student recreation centers and all are within 20 years of age.
The report also notes that it was required to hold a public hearing, which it scheduled on the evening of Dec. 8. There were 34 speakers. The release noted that many of those supporting Legion Pool had a “sentimental connection to the pool.”
The release also identified the student organizations on campus that expressed support for the redevelopment of the Legion Pool property. The pool was earmarked by UGA for demolition in 2012, but vocal opposition derailed the plan.
UGA’s decision will now “move forward to appropriate state agencies,” according to the report.
