Oldest pool in city gets upgrade
The Hillcrest pool, which was built in 1935 is receiving much-needed upgrades.
The oldest and only Olympic-sized pool in the city, built in 1935 in Hillcrest, is to get an upgrade.
This after a partnership between the Friends of Hillcrest Society and the metro saw funds being made available to refurbish some of the dilapidated infrastructure.
Speaking to Rekord, the coordinator of the Friends of Hillcrest Society, Dana Mahan said there was massive potential that was not being exploited in Hillcrest.
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“Unlike a lot of pools, it’s right in the heart of the city and sees a lot of traffic on a good day, and more can be done to make it better.
“Over the years infrastructure has been built up but maintenance is the issue.”
He said the metro was replacing the tiling, pool covers and creepy crawly and pump.
They also want to secure the parking area, refurbish the tuck shop and give athletes various dietary options.
“This facility is meant for top class athletes, world class competitors like Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling walked through these corridors and swam here and they went on to compete and represent the country well, winning countless medals. This is where it starts and that’s why we need all the support.”
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Mahan said they were working to focus attention on Hillcrest and get as many people around Pretoria interested in and aware of what is happening.
He said swimming was a fantastic sport that children could follow and excel in.
“From a community perspective, it creates social cohesion, it gets people connecting across cultural, racial and linguistic barriers and allows for them to bond over shared interests and goals.
“I know we have a lot of problems in Tshwane, housing problems and crime, and you may say sports and recreation is not important but what happens around it ticks a lot of boxes and it should be important.”
He said the upgrade was a fresh start and the pool is going back to a facility to be proud of and host more swimming events and galas and residents can come out and have fun in the water.
Ward councillor Kate Prinsloo commended the Friends of Hillcrest Society for their interest in bringing glory back to the pool.
“This is a pool that has a rich history. We train divers for the army and navy, lifesavers and swimming trainers.”
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Teams representing the province in water polo and swimming train there and a group of elderly people swim there on a regular basis.
Prinsloo said Karen Muir, who broke the first backstroke record when she was 12 years old in Liverpool, England, was part of the history of the pool.
“South Africa was boycotted at the time and Muir could not compete on an Olympic level… she would have done SA proud.
Princess Charlene of Monaco, a former South African Olympic swimmer, also swam there.
Prinsloo appealed to “those interested in swimming, who have an interest in the pool and have a nostalgia for the pool to join Friends of Hillcrest and do their bit in restoring the pool to its former glory in any way. Donations or volunteering would go a long way because the work done here is worthwhile.”
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She said she was grateful to a group such as the Friends of Hillcrest.
“With the metro we will build a world class facility for the capital city,” said Prinsloo.
The upgrades are expected to be completed by 9 July.
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