Natatorium closing forever April 1, 2014

by **PoconoPony** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:38 pm

Yesterday it was announced to the menâ€™s and womenâ€™s teams that the Joe Perkins Natatorium will close down on April 1st. The good news is that the administration is committed to building a new Aquatic Center and in the meantime we are going to prepare the outdoor pool to function as a year round facility so that we can continue to train our student athletes to compete and succeed in the future as in the past.

This is all happening rather suddenly so there are a lot more questions than there are answers at this time. Steve, Stilly, and I along with Mitch and Caroline are focused on getting the outdoor pool ready to be our training center for the foreseeable future. But the members of the team want to have a â€œLast Splash in the Natâ€ get together this Saturday, March 29th starting at 10:00am and culminating with a tailgate type BBQ on the front steps of the Nat around noon for everyone who has ever been a part of â€œthe Natatoriumâ€ history.

So come one , come all, come with family and/or friends for a last splash in the Nat. Bring your children, grandchildren, whoever and take a swim or just share some fellowship starting at 10:00am. Our plan is to offer some races for those who are interested at 10:30. And then open the pool for free swim. We will have the grills heated up and we will have burgers and hotdogs but feel free to bring anything you would like to cook. Because it is not a football game this event will be alcohol free. We will have plenty of water but feel free to bring your own beverages.

Let us know if you are coming but donâ€™t let that stop you from showing up. Swimmer, diver, masters or novice this will be the last chance to enjoy the history of the Joe Perkins Natatorium. So, please, take advantage of this opportunity. We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible this Saturday.

by **Mustangsabu** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 4:57 pm

I know that it does not help recruiting, and it's not flashy but I love that place. It's like going back in history. I'll be sad when it's not there any more but very excited to see what they do next.

by **ponyboy** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 5:13 pm

Wow!

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by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 7:09 pm

Thanks for the info, Pocono.

by **Water Pony** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:30 pm

Thanks, Pocono, for the update. I wish I could make it from Chicago and join you, Eddie, Steve and Jim. It will be sad to know that the "pool" will be closed and lost forever. The history and friends associated with the program from Coaches Barr and Mac until today is something SMU should always cherish.

Give my best to all!

by **FriscoChuck** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:35 pm

Anyone know why it's condemned? This will only temporarily be a problem. I have no doubt there will be a donor that steps up.

by **Terry Webster** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 9:37 pm

Learned how to swim at Perkins. Also remember going to see SMU beat Indiana to end their long meet winning streak.

by **CoxMustangFan** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:17 pm

Very strange story. Here's to new beginnings!

by **couch 'em** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:43 pm

FriscoChuck wrote:Anyone know why it's condemned? This will only temporarily be a problem. I have no doubt there will be a donor that steps up.

it has been on the verge of being condemned for decades. If you go down into the basement and look at all the giant structural cracks you would fear for your life

by **Water Pony** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:44 pm

FriscoChuck wrote:Anyone know why it's condemned? This will only temporarily be a problem. I have no doubt there will be a donor that steps up.

Even a superficial inspection reveals that the building, the oldest facility on campus which has not been renovated, must be condemned. Under the grandstands you would see structural problems and understand that the maintenance challenges and associated costs have become unsustainable.

by **couch 'em** » Tue Mar 25, 2014 11:55 pm

I would imagine keeping a pool holding water built into a building moving all over like Perkins must be really pricey. Remember this is bult right by the old creek that used to run through campus also.

I really hope whatever is built there has some character like the current building, and not the generic Georgian with cheeseball gold tower like most of the most recent buldings on campus. They look nice but so cookie cutter.

by **Water Pony** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 9:46 am

couch 'em wrote:I would imagine keeping a pool holding water built into a building moving all over like Perkins must be really pricey. Remember this is bult right by the old creek that used to run through campus also.

I really hope whatever is built there has some character like the current building, and not the generic Georgian with cheeseball gold tower like most of the most recent buldings on campus. They look nice but so cookie cutter.

I completely agree. Some of the new building are faux Georgian and, perhaps by necessity, over-sized. Not particularly attractive other than giving the appearance of Georgian architecture.

The plan is for an Alumni House to replace the Joe Perkins Natatorium on the Bishop Blvd. site.

by **DanFreibergerForHeisman** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 1:05 pm

I agree about the architecture of the majority of the new buildings on campus. They have little if any character and I can't summon up any enthusiasm for that sort of thing at all.

by **PonyKai** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:44 pm

Learned how to SCUBA dive in Perkins. Long live Wellness 2 courses.

by **PoconoPony** » Wed Mar 26, 2014 5:44 pm

Water Pony wrote:Thanks, Pocono, for the update. I wish I could make it from Chicago and join you, Eddie, Steve and Jim. It will be sad to know that the "pool" will be closed and lost forever. The history and friends associated with the program from Coaches Barr and Mac until today is something SMU should always cherish.

Give my best to all!

It is no secret that Turner has long coveted the site for it's central location and his visions for an alum/information/reception center. This really makes sense and is probably the best use of the location. Big question is whether or not there is enough resolve and support to sustain the swim programs. This issue should have been long over with a fantastic swim center built into the PE center when it was built. PE forces absolutely opposed competitive swimming having any use of "their" pool and facility. Poor leadership by the President allowed this situation to be decided on a short sighted political BS basis. Result is that we have an almost unused pool used for a handful full of PE classes and no other viable use. Pool could have been a 50 meter indoor facility with a bulk head thereby facilitating both swim programs at the same time and/or affording PE either end of the pool for PE. Now a totally new complex must be constructed on unavailable land at mucho cost and still be a single competitive use only pool which does not make economic sense.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel to Dallas on April 1 as my high school baseball team has already been weather cancelled 5 games to start the season and next week we have 7 scheduled games including 2 make ups.