UNF competition pool complex slowly becoming a reality
December 2, 2018
Many students may not have known that UNF’s Field House is used to accommodate an indoor pool. Now, a new competition pool complex is being planned on land north of the Student Wellness Center.
“Capital Projects is now in planning stages to assess costs. North of the Student Wellness Center, three courts will have to give way to accommodate the pool and would actually have to build those courts up to the north,” John Hale, Vice President of Physical Facilities and Campus Planning said.
The competition pool will not be used exclusively by UNF’s athletes. It will able to be utilized by the entire student body.
Students may wonder why this project is slow to manifest, especially with many excellent swimmers amongst the student population, living in a state that is surrounded by water.
“It’s always been on the list and that’s why we even started the programming for it. Now we’ve got the opportunity with some funds to start proceeding to see more of what we can do,” Shari Shuman, Vice President of Administration and Finance said.
According to Hale, the preliminary program will be a 50 meter pool 25 yards wide, poised to accommodate 10 competition lanes.
It will include a seven foot end where swimmers will be able to dive in and a shallow section will be built in the center to accommodate recreational activity. To complete the pool, the opposite end will be 13 feet deep to allow for diving platforms.
The thought of having a UNF competition pool complex on campus is electrifying and exciting but everyone will have to wait patiently to enjoy the benefit.
“We are right at the beginning of this project. We have to confirm the program. We have to confirm cost estimates. We’ve gotta make sure we’ve got enough dollars to even start engineering, designing, construction. There’s a whole process to it,” Shuman said.
More information about the project will be available the first quarter of 2019.
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Janice Stewart • Dec 7, 2018 at 10:03 am
I will believe it when I see it.
Make sure it complies with USA Swimming and NCAA regulations. Not just the pool itself but the locker rooms, storage facilities, etc.
Tara Skinner • Dec 5, 2018 at 8:49 am
As a parent of a current UNF swimmer we are excited to learn of this progressing! It will be much needed improvement to the Florida swimming community, from College to USS age group swimming! It will take the Swim program at UNF to the next level of competitiveness! There is much opportunity for outstanding swimming in this state and and at UNF. Thank you for considering this and hopefully will come to fruition! We love UNF and we are very proud of the school. We are thrilled our daughter chose to swim for the Ospreys! A swimming complex will offer so much more than just college swimming however. It will empower overall fitness for the campus students,faculty and staff. It can add much needed swimming classes for school age kids and add a competition pool to the state of Florida that is badly needed( if UNF willing to consider use from the swimming community). Thank you. Go Ospreys!