DPR announced the new pool lane configuration schedule for the Wilson Aquatic Center. The new lane configurations will begin on Monday, October 31, 2011.
DPR Contact: John Stokes, (202) 288-7275
DPR Aquatics Office: (202) 671-1289
Washington, DC - Today, the DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) announced the new pool lane configuration schedule for the Wilson Aquatic Center. The new lane configurations will begin on Monday, October 31, 2011.
DPR Director Jesús Aguirre states, “The lane configuration issue at Wilson Aquatic Center is one we take seriously. I would like to thank the many District residents who have shared their input regarding the Wilson Pool, including those who participated in the DPR Wilson Aquatic Center Online Survey.
The Wilson Aquatic Center is a state of the art aquatic facility in Ward 3 adjacent to the newly modernized Wilson High School. Wilson Aquatic Center is DC's premier indoor aquatic facility. The center offers one large swimming pool, a leisure pool that includes a children’s area, a whirlpool, men's and women's locker rooms, a viewing gallery, meeting rooms and coming soon a fitness center. There has been much debate about whether the Wilson Pool should remain in a 50-meter configuration, switch to a 25-yard configuration, or be configured in some combination of the two configurations. Based on input from the Wilson Advisory Committee, the Wilson Aquatic Center Online Survey, the ANCs in the area, the Wilson Swim Team and in consideration of new programs that are being developed, DPR has established a configuration schedule that balances the input received from these groups with the best interests of the diverse group of children, youth, families and specialized swimmers that utilize or wish to utilize one of DPR’s crown jewel facilities”
The following schedule will be in effect during the current school year, beginning Monday, October 31, 2001 through the end of the Wilson Swim Team season. Customers can also find the calendar view of the schedule on the DPR website, DPR.DC.GOV or the Wilson Pool web page, wilsonaquatics.com.
25-Yard Configuration:
- Monday – 6:00 am – 8:00 am
- Wednesday – 6:00 am – 3:00 pm
- Friday – 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Sunday – 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
50-meter Configuration:
- Monday – 8:30 am – 9:00 pm
- Tuesday – 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Wednesday – 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm
- Thursday – 6:00 am – 8:00 pm
- Saturday – 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
The pool will be closed for one hour each day except Sunday to change lane configurations and on Monday when the lane change will take one half hour with the assistance of the Wilson Swim Team.
There will be no changes to the leisure pool or whirlpool.
Of the 1,185 District residents who participated in the unscientific online survey, 66 respondents voted for the pool to be 25 yards at all times, 818 voted for 50 meters at all times and 166 thought it should be split equally with some days 25 yards and other days at 50 meters. 82 people said it should be split, but mostly 25 yards and 53 people thought it should be split, but mostly 50 meter. The ANC’s voted unanimously to have the pool configured in a 50-50 split. DPR will also use the 25 yard configuration to develop programs such as diving and school based aquatic activities.
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