Missouri Western State University will honor the past and celebrate the future of the swimming pool inside the M.O. Looney Complex during a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 30. The ceremony will take place outside the new exterior entrance to the pool, on the west side of the Looney complex. The ceremony is free and open to the public, and light refreshments will be served. An open house will follow the ceremony, with tours of the new facility available from 1 to 3 p.m.
The ribbon-cutting will honor former U.S. Sen. Thomas Eagleton of Missouri, who played a key role in obtaining funding for many building projects on campus, including the construction of the swimming pool in 1971. The ceremony will also honor the student leaders and community partners who came together last year to help renovate and operate the pool when its future was jeopardized by a combination of maintenance needs, low utilization and staffing challenges.
A former Eagleton aide, Gerard Grimaldi, is among the speakers at the ceremony. Also speaking will be Dr. Marvin Looney, who was Missouri Western’s president when the pool was built and for whom the Looney Complex is named; Dr. Robert Vartabedian, Missouri Western’s current president; Shana Meyer, vice president for student affairs; St. Joseph Mayor Bill Falkner; and Alec Guy, president of Missouri Western’s Student Government Association. The St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce will conduct the formal cutting of the ribbon following the speakers.
In February, Missouri Western’s Board of Governors approved a contract with E.L. Crawford Construction of St. Joseph to do approximately $600,000 worth of work, including renovation of the entire pool shell interior and pool deck, the addition of a new storefront entryway and ticket office that will allow patrons to enter directly from the outside, renovation of the locker rooms and the addition of a family restroom and changing area, among other improvements.
Missouri Western and the City of St. Joseph have signed a five-year programming and use agreement for the pool. The city will make an annual payment to Missouri Western to offset part of the pool’s operating expenses, provide programming in the pool, and make the city’s aquatic recreation supervisor available to help manage the pool during the months of September through March.
The pool will be available for “open swim” recreational use by the general public at least 30 hours per week. A daily pass is $4. Public hours can be viewed at www.missouriwestern.edu/recreation/facilities-and-hours/.
In addition to the city, Missouri Western has worked with the YMCA, St. Joseph School District, Buchanan County and others to be sure all local pool users can be accommodated.
Missouri Western State University is a comprehensive regional university providing a blend of traditional liberal arts and professional degree programs. The university offers student-centered, high quality instruction that focuses on experience-based learning, community service, and state-of-the-art technology. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit www.missouriwestern.edu.