The Palo Alto Natatorium is a state-of-the-art Olympic facility that provides multiple services for the students, faculty, staff and community.

“The Natatorium is ranked as one of the top three pools in the state of Texas,” said Dennis Ryther, Athletic Director. The pool

is Olympic size; it is 25 yards in width and 50 yards in length.

Palo Alto College uses the Natatorium for programs to help the community, students and faculty learn to swim and dive. It also hosts a variety of major swimming and diving events each year.

“This is the pool that every team in our area wants to swim in. If we can’t use the A&M or UT natatoriums, we usually end up racing here,” said Palo Alto swim team member Laura Laubach.

The programs offered include Learn to Swim for community children, ages 5 years and up. This program teaches children how to master swimming skills one at a time.

The Natatorium also offers dive lessons at an athlete’s level for students and the community. The instructors are safety trained by United States Diving. Palo Alto College offers two sessions. Each costs $20.

Water Aerobics is another program offered at the Natatorium for the community and students. This low-impact activity provides participants with the opportunity to exercise.

The Natatorium also offers open swim for the community and students through Dec. 15, 2001. The pool will re-open after Christmas break on Jan. 8, 2002. Admission for the community is $1; students, faculty and staff get in free with a college ID.

The Natatorium is also used by East Central, Southwest, Somerset, South San, Stacey and Harlandale high schools for their practice sessions and swim meets.

Furthermore, second grade students of South San, Southwest, and Somerset Independent School Districts participate in swimming lessons as well.

The Natatorium hosts at least three to five major events a year. One of the major events this year is a swim meet for the Western Athletic Conference that will be held on Feb. 27, 2001.

Palo Alto instructors also train the San Antonio Police Academy cadets in swimming techniques, because two officers drowned last year. Cadets must now pass this course to become police officers.

The Natatorium is also a main source of revenue for the college and the city. The pool also generates money by renting the facility out to universities over the Christmas break to conduct practices.

The pool programs run year round, and the pool is open seven days a week during the summer.

If you need more information about programs and hours, contact Ryther at 921-5234.