Thomas Hahn, the UF club water polo secretary, stood at the closed gate of Florida Pool after arriving in the late afternoon one November day. He intended to fit in a quick swim before dinner, but he found the pool closed, drained and officially out of commission.
The 19-year-old business sophomore immediately knew every aquatics club and recreational swimmer would be fighting for the limited eight lanes at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center, and if a retired high school swimmer like Hahn knew anything, it was how to proceed with speed.
Florida Pool’s closure was announced Nov. 9 for essential maintenance and repairs, with plans to reopen in April 2025. Before its renovations, the pool featured eight lanes 50 yards long and with depths ranging from 4.5 feet to 12.5 feet. The university has not released any plans regarding possible renovations.
As a temporary replacement for those wishing to access the pool, the university extended hours at the indoor O’Connell Center pool, hoping to alleviate student disappointment. The eight-lane pool is open to students and staff seven days a week, with varying hours depending on the day. Hours and information can be found at the RecSports website.
Hahn previously spent four to five days a week at the outdoor facility practicing for water polo, swimming laps or catching some rays. As soon as he heard about the closure, he met with the water polo executive board to not only plan but to share his worries. Hahn said he remains concerned about the possibility of the O’Connell Center being too busy for water polo to have adequate practice time.
“Every practice we've had so far, we had to share with at least one other club,” he said.
Hahn said he understands the Florida Pool required renovations, but he wishes it could have been completed during the summer instead. The O’Connell Center doesn’t have enough resources to support all the aquatic activity students require, he said.
Hahn said he was frustrated he had to search off campus for other pools, which often charge for entry.
Hahn isn’t the only student who finds Florida Pool’s closure to be frustrating. Caleb Clary, a 21-year-old UF Media Production, Management and Technology junior, said he hopes the school renovates the pool and makes it available to students again as quickly as possible. While a less frequent user than Hahn, he still feels the pool is a facility students should have access to and said he finds the frequent construction around UF irritating.
“UF and Gainesville in general tend to take a really long time to get things done,” Clary said, “Or at least that’s how it seems.”
Michael Pribe, a 23-year-old UF marketing first-year graduate student, said he is also not happy with the timing of the renovation.
Originally from New York, Pribe has grown used to chilly temperatures and said his experience with the cold makes him well-suited to use outdoor pools if they were open. The closure of Florida Pool synchronized with the seasonal closure of Graham Pool, the university’s only other publicly available outdoor pool.
Like many other students, Pribe is dissatisfied with the O’Connell Center as a replacement. Pribe said the indoor facility lacks the aspects of Florida Pool he had come to enjoy: social interaction, the natural appeal and plenty of space.
In response to the O’Connell Center’s adjusted hours, Pribe said he was upset with the limited options, as he has class during the bulk of open swim time.
“I am missing out on the social aspects that come with having chairs to relax in and strike up conversations with fellow students,” he said.
Pribe said he wishes he had more information about potential Florida Pool upgrades, giving him some hope for its reopening. He said a university-wide email with some information regarding the pool’s updates and a timeline would be helpful.
The O’Connell Center pool, located between gates two and three, will serve as the on-campus pool until the reopenings of both Graham and Florida Pools.
Contact Rachel Mish at rmisch@alligator.org. Follow her on X @mish_rache62827.
Rachel Mish is a junior English and business major and the Fall 2024 Food Reporter for The Avenue. In her free time, she enjoys playing pick-up basketball or sewing a gameday outfit.
