Pool Renovations Recognized at Homestead Meet

The Whitefish Bay community celebrated the installation of a renovated swimming pool, and then saw the pool put to good use in a meet against Homestead Thursday night.

Last year, the Nebbish Society fundraiser generated more than $100,000 from the community and another $110,000 from the Whitefish Bay School District for the purchase and installation of a moveable bulkhead, which was installed in September. 

Responding to new safety regulations, Whitefish Bay athletic officials decided last year to reorient the lanes perpendicular to the previous racing lanes so swimmers could launch into deeper water. Because of the longer pool length, a moveable bulkhead wall was needed to define the end of the 25-yard swimming lane.

With the moveable bulkhead in place, the Whitefish Bay girls and boys swim teams will once again be able to host swim meets. The boys are scheduled to host the conference meet this year.

Whitefish Bay swim coach Jim Davis, who has coached for 31 years, said the renovations restore the pool to its former prominence.

"Most pools have no windows and no ventilation, so to me, this is one of the greatest facilities in southeastern Wisconsin," Davis said.

The high school also received new bleachers, starting blocks, a scoreboard and a timing system as part of the fundraiser coordinated by The Nebbish Society, a swimming booster organization. The new swimming pool configuration also allows for a new bleacher seating arrangement closer to the water, on the east and west sides of the pool.

Other donations came from the Whitefish Bay Public Education Foundation, Sendik's, the Whitefish Bay Civic Foundation, Duke Pride, North Shore Swim Club, the Whitefish Bay High School Parent Association, parent-teacher organizations from Whitefish Bay Middle School, Cumberland Schooland Richards School and the Shorewood Swim Club. An anonymous donor also chipped in matching funds totaling $50,000.