Historic Legion Pool to Open May 23rd for the Summer

The pool is open to the UGA community and its supporters.

  Legion Pool at the University of Georgia will open on May 23 for the summer season. Hours of operation are 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through July 31, and 2-7 p.m. Aug. 1-8. Legion Pool is available to students with valid UGACards who pay activity fees on the Athens campus; faculty and staff with valid UGACards; guests of students, faculty and staff; and Friends of Campus Life members. A UGACard holder must accompany all guests. Admission is $3 for students, $4 for faculty and staff, $3 for children ages 3-15 (who must be accompanied by an adult) and $5 for guests and members of Friends of Campus Life. Friends of Campus Life memberships are available for a minimum $40 donation at the Tate Student Center business office, open weekdays from 8…

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Legion Pool Won't be Demolished--At Least Not By UGA President Adams

UGA withdraws its request from the Board of Regents to demolish the historic structure in Athens, Ga.

  At a UGA media briefing a few weeks ago, an exasperated President Michael Adams seemed fed up with talk of Legion Pool. He wondered why local press outlets had devoted so much time and space to it when the university is hemorrhaging money and being asked to cut millions more. On Monday, his office sent out copies of a letter to Chancellor Hank Huckaby. In it, Adams talks about his believe that demolishing Legion is a good idea. But, given the current economic climate, some might consider building a replacement pool as frivolous. He's going to leave the issue of What To Do About Legion to the next UGA President, who will be on the job in June. The many people who signed a petition to protect Legion Pool, the many people who joined …

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UGA Withdraws Request to Close Historic Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.

In an Oct. 17th letter to Chancellor Hank Huckaby, President Adams cites budgetary issues for dropping the matter.

UGA President Michael Adams will let the next UGA president, who will be on board next June, grapple with the contentious issue of whether to close historic Legion Pool. In an October 17th letter to University of Georgia System Chancellor Hank Huckaby, Adams says questions have been raised about the efficacy of the plan to build "a new, modern pool close to UGA recreation facilities." Some, he said, may see building a pool as "frivolous" in "this economic climate." He requests that UGA 's materials for Legion Pool be withdrawn. "It's the right decision, and we respect and appreciate President Adams for making it," said retired attorney and author Grady Thrasher, one of those spearheading the campaign to save Legion Pool. "We thank the …

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Adams Says Legion Is "An Outdated Pool on Valuable Real Estate"

UGA President said he was surprised by the community's negative reaction to proposed demolition of historic Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.

  During his monthly press conference, UGA President Michael Adams talked about budget woes. He talked about how well-qualified and diverse the freshman class is. And he answered about Legion Pool, the historic pool built by the American Legion and the WPA in the 1930s. He seemed a little peeved to have to talk about Legion Pool, noting that more has been written about the pool than about the looming budget crisis that could cripple the university.  These are some of the highlights of what he said: * "This whole issue has gotten blown out of proportion," he said. The negative reaction of many in the Athens community to the demolition plans surprised him. What you have is an outdated pool on valuable real estate. It's right in the middle of…

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UGA Will Hold Public Hearing on Legion Pool

More than 200 people asked for a hearing, officials said.

  The University of Georgia plans to hold a public hearing about the fate of historic Legion Pool, though the date hasn't yet been set. According to a story in the Athens Banner Herald, J Dorsey has received 270 requests for a public hearing, many more than required. UGA placed a public notice in the Athens paper about two weeks ago that didn't ask for comments. A local advocacy group, Friends of Legion Pool, publicized the request. University officials have said that repairing the pool, which was built in the 1930s, will cost half a million dollars. Building a new, smaller pool near Lake Herrick would cost $2.6 million. The Georgia Board of Regents is expected to take up the issue in October of whether to allow UGA to demolish Legion Pool.

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Athens Today--August 28

Good morning! Need a job?

  From 8am to 7pm, folks from the Fresh Market will be interviewing candidates for jobs at the company's soon-to-be-open grocery in Beechwood. They are conducting candidate interviews at the Holiday Inn on Broad Street. If you want to be considered, first visit the company's website and use keyword 155 for all jobs open in Athens. Good luck! With all the hoopla over UGA's new health campus on Prince Avenue, it's easy to forget there are other schools who've been doing their homework, getting A's on all the tests and eating their vegetables. Guess who turns ten next month? It's the School of Public and International Affairs, which consistently ranked as one of the country's best graduate schools in public affairs. Congratulations! Got ideas…

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UGA Accepting Public Comments About Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.

The public has 30 days, until mid-September, to share their opinions.

  Legion Pool may be closed for the season, but the fight to save the historic structure from demolition goes on. The University of Georgia on Friday ran a public notice in the Athens Banner Herald, under miscellaneous, about the pool. The notice, a copy of which is included in the images, says that UGA hired Travis Pruitt & Associates, Inc., to conduct an environmental effects report. Although the notice doesn’t ask for public comment, the university is now--for 30 days, beginning last Friday-- accepting letters from those interested in the pool. According to J. Dorsey, the Georgia Environmental Policy Act “has regulations in it that say if you wish to tear down a historic building, you need to have an environmental effects report …

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Athens Today--August 9

Happy Thursday!

  The 9th annual Teacher Reuse Store will be open this Saturday from 9am until noon at the ACC Solid Waste Administration Building on West Hancock Industrial Way. The store has available binders, file folders, clip boards, labels, and paper, and industry by-products that might be useful for art supplies, classroom organization, and/or other school functions. There’s a tremendous amount of furniture like bookshelves, chair and tables. You should bring with you only your work ID—not children, not friends, not even money, because everything is donated and is free to you. If you teach public or private school in Athens-Clarke, Oconee, Oglethorpe or Madison counties, you’re eligible to come, peruse and take away. Legion Pool may be closing for …

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Another Film From Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.

This particular film has both adults and children in it.

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What's it Like at Legion Pool?

A recent Sunday afternoon at sunny Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.

You might also be interested in: State Historic Preservation Officer Questions Legion Pool Demolition Historic Preservation Students to UGA: Save Legion Pool from Demolition UGA Documents Indicate Legion Pool Replacement to Exclude Community Legion Pool in Athens, Ga.: Some Notes on its History Athens Attorney and Athens Artist Protest Planned Demolition of Legion Pool UGA Proposes Building Pool at Lake Herrick to Replace Legion Pool

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