Northwest ISD opens new Aquatic Center - Cross Timbers Gazette | Southern Denton County | Flower Mound | News

Wednesday, January 13, 2021

Last week, Northwest ISD opened a new 80,000 square foot aquatic center next to Northwest High School.

According to a press release from the region, the construction project was completed on time and the budget was completed within 14 months. The grand opening event featured a speech by the senior captain of the swimming team and the first "First Competition" in which swimmers from all three comprehensive middle schools in the area simultaneously jumped into the 50-meter competition pool from the swimming pool deck.

VR Eaton High School's first-year swimming and diving head coach Brad Eichenseer said: "The new facility is a dream come true for me, my class coach, swimmers and divers of all ages. "No matter now or in the future, countless members of our community will benefit a lot."

The complex was designed and constructed on the central campus of the NISD (Highway 114 and FM 156 south of Justin), providing the most convenient access to the 234 square mile boundary of the district. Before the opening of the water sports center, NISD rented other facilities, including the swimming pool at Keller ISD and the swimming and diving facilities in Decatur, which restricted students’ practice time and required them to travel daily. Area.

"After 26 years of renting in other locations, we now have our own facilities," said Steve Melbourn, director of the Aquatic Center. “We feel very fortunate and grateful for these relationships, but it’s great to look at the faces of our students and see their excitement for their new home.”

According to NISD, the aquatic center has space for five high school swimming teams and aims to support future regional development. The multifunctional facility was funded by the Northwest ISD taxpayer in the 2017 bond election. It has a 50-meter-long competition swimming pool, a 4-lane, 25-yard practice pool, a seating area for 850 guests, and a sports performance training center. The building also houses a full-service sports medicine rehabilitation center and health clinic, which will be serviced by professionals from the Texas Health Resources Bureau.

Clint Abernathy, president of the Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance, said: "Our collaboration with NISD directly enables us to realize our mission and vision for lifelong health and well-being." "We The team’s children, husbands, wives and neighbors are all part of this world-class area and will benefit from this facility."

Mark Smith is the digital editor of the Cross Timber Bulletin.