DeKALB – In the first week of September, the NIU Recreation Center announced the Anderson Hall pool was closed indefinitely. Now, it has been permanently closed.
On Sept. 11, NIU provided a statement to the Northern Star.
“Due to low participation in the open-swim program and the ongoing costs of maintenance and staffing, the program at Anderson Hall will be discontinued. Students, employees and community members are encouraged to explore alternative options at nearby facilities, such as the Kishwaukee Family YMCA, Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Health & Wellness Center or the John B. Norris Recreation Center,” according to the university statement given to the Northern Star.
Anderson Hall, constructed in 1964, paid tribute to Miriam Mills Anderson, former head of the women’s physical education department from 1928-1956. Anderson Hall included the pool as well as the Women’s PE department and was a big drive for the growth and development of physical education for both men and women according to NIU archives.
This closure marks the second pool closure after the Gabel Hall pool was closed after the Spring 2017 semester due to poor maintenance and low participation.
“Student Affairs oversaw the Recreation program and an efficiency initiative drove a consolidation of operations between the Gabel and Anderson pools. Closing the Gabel pool was the logical determination. Academic and recreational pool use was consolidated to the Anderson pool,” according to a university statement provided to the Northern Star.
