Robinson Natatorium re-established open pool hours for students, faculty, staff and retirees last week on Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

Prescott Deckinger | Multimedia Journalist

The natatorium, located inside Robinson Center, contains six twenty-five meter lane pools as well as a diving well, consisting of a high dive and diving boards. 

Members of the KU community, primarily students, took to the lane pools’ waters as a form of leisure and entertainment. 

“I did dive in high school, so it’s nice to get back in the water,” Jensen Schnurr, a junior at KU said. “It’s not jam-packed all the time, and it’s nice to come here and swim when I have the chance.”

Recreation services ceased open pool hours in the natatorium in May 2022, citing a lack of difficulty in hiring lifeguards and an absence of swim-related programming. 

Only the KU Women’s Swimming and Diving team was allowed access to the natatorium’s lane pools and diving well during the two-year hiatus. 

Refurbished facilities, routine maintenance work, and a fully staffed lifeguard crew are the key reasons recreation services reinstated open pool hours. 

“It’s really important to keep your eye on the pool when you’re sitting up in the lifeguard chair, because keeping everyone safe is my top priority,” Dempsey Schrader, junior lifeguard said.

The only area off-limits to the KU community is the diving well, where the KU Women’s Swimming and Diving team trains for athletic events. 

Students were grateful for the lane pools as a place where they could both exercise and relax. 

“I swam in middle school and high school, so it’s great that I can use the pool lanes to continue working out and having fun,” Luka Owens, a senior at KU said. 

Robinson Natatorium is open Monday through Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Those hours are subject to change and recreation services will update the times on their website.

The natatorium is not open to members of the Lawrence public, and students, faculty and staff must present their KU ID at the entrance of the lane pools to be granted entry.