Aquatic center project hopes for $1.7 million

By Liz O'Brien

Construction workers broke ground on the new aquatic center behind Malley Fitness and Recreation Center early spring quarter, but project leaders still don't know what the new center will look like when it opens in the fall.

Although the dimensions and basic structure of the pool have been finalized, exactly what features the new aquatic center will have remains to be seen.

The project is still $1.7 million short of the $5 million needed for the ideal aquatic facility, according to Assistant Athletic Director Fred Smith.

"By September, we'll have the water, and some of the basic things you need for a pool," said Smith. What will be added to that is dependent upon the amount of money raised in addition to the $3 million donated by alumnus Jack Sullivan, '59.

"The funds the Sullivans are providing aren't what the pool costs -- they aren't what the full-blown aquatic center we want is," Smith said.

The basics of the pool, which include lighting, a fence, mechanical equipment, the deck, the under-pool lighting and the pool itself, total $3.7 million.

The university's ideal aquatic center, according to Smith, would include a lifeguard office and higher-end landscaping, as well as newer bleachers, a better scoreboard and a bulkhead to separate the area used for water polo.

It is uncertain as of now whether those additions will become a reality, as fundraising is still ongoing.

Both Smith and Director of Recreation Janice DeMonsi said that a September opening is the aquatic center's top priority. Currently, almost $300,000 has been raised in addition to the initial donation, but there is no guarantee that enough funds will be raised to accommodate more than the bare minimums of a new center.

"In order to open in September, there's things that we need in a pool, that we may not have money for," DeMonsi said.

Smith said that he anticipates enough money to open the pool on donations alone come September, but he added that if that wasn't the case, university money may be used to ensure a fall opening.

"Whether it's from Malley or the Athletic Department or somewhere else, we don't know who will cover it, but the pool will open by September," he said.

Other changes with the new aquatic center

* The majority of the 22 lifeguards employed at the pool last quarter will be relocated inside of Malley.

"We're giving as many hours as possible to the guards, but the current staff has priority," said DeMonsi. Of the 22 guards, 19 have chosen to stay on Malley's staff, even though it usually means less hours per week and a smaller pay per hour than they were originally receiving.

To better accommodate the lifeguards moving inside, DeMonsi said that she refrained from hiring anyone inside of Malley all this year, even though she received over 40 applications.

* The St. Clare pool is open to all students this quarter on Sunday afternoons from noon to 4 p.m., but DeMonsi said that hours will be increased according to demand as the quarter progresses. The St. Clare pool has no lap swimming accommodations, but does offer some deck space.

* The new aquatic center will allow for more home games for both men's and women's water polo. Unlike the old facility, the new pool will be both deep enough and wide enough to meet regulation size, increasing both the quality of practices and the number of home games, according to men's and women's water polo coach Keith Wilbur.

"It's going to add some flexibility," said Wilbur, who added that both men's and women's teams will now be able to practice and condition at the same time.

Additionally, there will now be six lanes for lap swimming available during water polo practices, as opposed to three.

Contact Liz O'Brien at (408) 554-4546 or eobrien@scu.edu.