New ELHS to Feature Natotorium (That’s a pool)

By Cody Robb ’24

Along with a new school building, ELHS will have a new pool, open to the public, when not being used by physical education classes or the swim team.

The new pool will have six lanes instead of four, allowing for the EL Swim Team during meets to have a full-sized pool which will allow for larger scale meets compared to those of the past. 

 Practices will also allow for easier and more productive practices and allow for more flexible competition at meets.

“The new pool has two more lanes than the existing pool and that opens up more opportunities to our swimmers during the competitive season and it’s going to allow me as a coach to run a single practice,” Mr. Benjamin O’Connor, the ELHS swim coach, said.

Accessibility will be improved with a walk-in access entry to the pool, and the public will be able to use the pool facilities at designated times during school hours.

“The new building will have security measures to allow that pool to be used during the school day without any risk to the students within the educational side of the buildings,” Mr. O’Connor said.

Principal Frank Paige believes the pool is important for both the school and the people of East Longmeadow.

“If you don’t invest in that community, your community dies,” Principal Frank Paige. 

 “Investing in your schools means you believe in the future of your kids. Investing in the pool means you believe in those experiences for not just your kids, but everybody who’s in that community.” 

The finished High School and Pool Projects are set to be completed as of an estimated date of Summer 2027.