By John Sharp
Rockhurst High School has purchased the vacant former Red Bridge YMCA facility and intends to use its pool for its successful swim & dive team and make it available for other area school swimming teams that have used it in the past like Rockhurst has.
Rockhurst President David Laughlin said Center High School, Notre Dame de Sion High School and St. Teresa’s Academy are among the area schools whose teams have used the pool in the past and will be given the opportunity to continue using it. He said Rockhurst is open to consider use of the pool by other high school swimming teams as schedules allow.
He added that although Rockhurst does not intend to operate the former YMCA as a community center, it might consider other uses of the pool such as lifeguard training when it’s available and not being used by the student athletes.
Laughlin said that although minor repairs are needed to the facility and grounds they should be completed quickly, and Rockhurst plans to start using the pool by summer.
He said major gifts from the Goppert Foundation and the Tom & Jean McDonnell Foundation helped make purchase of the facility from the YMCA of Greater Kansas City possible.
Rockhurst has one of the most successful boys swim & dive teams in the state having won state championships in its class for the last two years in a row and winning 13 championships since 2005, according to Laughlin.
He said the school is studying how the fitness facilities at the former YMCA can be utilized by its students.
I live near the YMCA building and my family and I have spent many years there, using fitness equipment, pool, and classes. Have to admit, I am somewhat disappointed. Was holding out hope that it would be purchased by an organization that would open it up to the community. 😔