Idaho State University’s Reed Gym usually offers the perfect venue for aquatic enthusiasts to practice in the water. For the time being, however, the on-campus pool has been closed for repairs “to support its future, long-term viability,” according to the university website.
The pool was part of the original Reed Gym that opened in 1951. Karen Homstad, Campus Recreation Staff’s Associate Director, said the pool is “basically a big cement botox” that was designed to last for a while. It has, however, passed its due date for repairs.
“That pool was meant to last 50 years, and we’re at 70,” said Homstad.
An official reopening date has yet to be determined, but this doesn’t worry Homstad.
“I get it that there is a needs hierarchy, and I trust ISU to make a good decision,” she said.
The campus website notes that in August an aquatics facility engineering firm visited to assess the pool and recommend actions for the university to take on the matter. Facility maintenance staff was contacted for comment, but has not yet responded.
For many, the temporary loss of a pool on campus has been less than ideal. The university swim club, for example, has had to relocate practices.
Hannah Montrose, Swim Club President, mentioned that although they have arranged times with local pools to continue club meetings, issues have arisen with such arrangements.
“It’s not as accessible to students that don’t have a car or transportation,” said Montrose.
In addition to accessibility issues, Montrose has had to compete with other local swim groups for time at off-campus spaces. Pocatello offers facilities such as Ross Park Aquatic Complex and the Community Recreation Center, but between high school swim teams and the general community each having their own time in the water, reserving times for larger groups is a necessity.
Relocating hasn’t been easy, but Montrose remains hopeful about the club’s continuation despite drawbacks.
“It’s a bummer that the pool is closed, but we will still be swimming this semester,” she said.
Swimming, according to Homstad, is more than just exercise. She says that the pool on campus is a sort of symbolic representation of the university’s cohesion between mental and physical health.
“I know that swimming is like a lifetime activity,” she said. “So it doesn’t seem that glamorous, you know when you’re 15, 16 or 17, but I think as you start to get a little older you can start to see the physical and mental benefits of swimming.”
In the meantime, Homstad, Montrose and other swimmers in the campus community will have to reap the benefits of swimming somewhere else.
For updates on the ongoing closure, visit https://www.isu.edu/camprec/pool/.
