Michigan State University’s new 50-meter pool is almost ready to go.
The school opened the fitness center portion of its new Student Recreation and Wellness Center on April 15, and now, the pool is in the final stages, having recently been visited by a state health inspector, before it’s expected to be and running within the next month, pending final approval from the state.
The pool is 10 lanes, 50 meters by 25 yards, and features two removable bulkheads. The school also installed a pair of separate video boards.
Photos courtesy of Alex Lee.
The 293,000-square-foot facility also includes several gymnasiums, an indoor turf field, an indoor track and a 47-foot climbing wall.
The Michigan State Board of Trustees approved the $200 million recreation center in June 2023, and at the time, Board Chair Rema Vassar said the facility may create a “window of opportunity” for the Spartans to reinstate their men’s and women’s swimming & diving programs.
Michigan State announced it was eliminating its swim & dive programs in October 2020, and there has been a large effort from the Battle for Spartan Swim and Dive advocacy group to revive the teams over the last six years, including raising $5 million in 2023.
Despite the arrival of the new pool, there has been no indications of late that the programs are nearing a revival.
Most recently, Michigan State named a new Athletic Director, Dan Bartholomae, who said he’s willing to listen to supporters, but doesn’t foresee the programs being brought back any time in the near future.
“Usually, (the question) is, ‘Can you reinstate the program?’ And my answer is, I cannot do that. Certainly not right now.” Bartholomae said, according to The Detroit News. “I can’t make a promise about reinstating a program six weeks into the job, and I don’t see a lot in the landscape right now that suggests that’s a decision that we should be making, even within the next 18 to 24 months.
“I listened to their perspective. I respect it. What I can do is honor that program, make sure that they have a place in our history, listen to your perspective, and I think I’ve done all those things,” Bartholomae said.
“That program is a part of our history, and we’re not going to act like they never happened. I want them to have reunions, I want their reunions to be successful, I want them to have a platform to share whatever perspective they have about the program. And I’ll always be here to listen.”
The school says the new “recreational” pool will be used for courses, open swim and water fitness.
