The state’s budget troubles may mean the pool at LSUE will close.
And, along with the pool, an exercise class may come to an end.
Renee Fruge, instructor, said the pool is vital to Eunice, but she hears the pool may close to bring in new sports to the campus.
“I’m assuming it does cost money to run the pool and, however, it is going to cost a lot more to fill it up,” she said.
Chancellor Kimberly Russell has not made it a secret the pool is costly and under-utilized.
Fruge said there are about 20 people taking the water aerobic classes held at 4 and 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In an email, Russell said, “The swimming pool area is one of several LSUE facilities requiring repair, renovation and/or replacement. At this time, the state of Louisiana has very little (if any) funding to allocate to higher education for capital outlay, and I do not foresee additional state funding available in the next several years.”
Russell added, “LSUE has two revenue sources that include state appropriations and student-derived tuition/fees. We have no other way to generate revenue for facilities. The future of the swimming pool is as fragile as the future of our other facilities that are need of repair, renovation or replacement. It is not tied to any NJCAA sport offered by the university.’
In March 2017 story in The Eunice News, Russell said the swimming pool area needs to be gutted.
“It is so under-utilized that is would be great if we could fill it in and make it a real recreation area,” she said.
The same story said pool and equipment repairs would cost more than $530,000.
Fruge stressed the benefits of the pool.
“I have anywhere from 30-year-olds to my oldest person is 84. He had knee replacement surgery,” she said.
The 84-year-old’s doctor recommended he do water aerobics, she said.
“We do get a good workout. But there is no stress on the joints,” Fruge said.
The water aerobics also helps younger people stay in shape, she said.
Fruge thinks the closest indoor pool may be at a private health club in Opelousas.
“Every semester we worry hoping, to generate enough interest to where it won’t be a worry,” Fruge said about the LSUE pool closing.
Class member Margaret Frey said some of the problem is the public doesn’t know it can access the pool.
Frey said the aerobics class is $10 a week.
The pool also is available for lap swimming when a lifeguard is present, she said.
Frey, who said she has been using pool for about 30 years, said when it opened it was announced as a community pool.
