Since the age of 4, swimming has been a cornerstone of my life, providing not only physical exercise but also a sense of community; an experience shared by countless students, faculty, alumni, and Arlington residents who rely on the UTA pool. The swimming facility at the University of Texas at Arlington is more than just a pool;  it is a hub where students, employees, swim clubs, and local community members train, learn to swim, stay healthy, and connect. Its potential closure threatens not only my personal wellness and routine, but also the broader UTA and Arlington communities that depend on this space for recreation, physical activity, social connection, and growth.

The pools have a rich history as a vital part of campus life. Located in the Physical Education Building, the facilities include an indoor six‑lane, 25‑yard pool and an eight‑lane, 50‑meter outdoor pool. Over the decades, these aquatic facilities have hosted countless events, training sessions, swim lessons, and casual recreational swims, fostering an inclusive atmosphere for beginners, community members, student athletes, and professionals alike. The presence of swim clubs such as Maverick Swim Club and MARS Swimming highlights the facility’s role in competitive training, collegiate and community-level meets, and youth development, demonstrating that this is far more than a recreational space. Losing the pool would eliminate critical infrastructure for swim instruction, competitive practice, and water‑safety education. The aquatics facility also stands as a symbol of the legacy of student‑athlete achievement, community involvement, inclusive programming, and campus wellness culture.

The importance of swim lessons and water safety cannot be overstated. In the United States, more than 4,000 people die from unintentional drowning each year, and that number rose to over 4,500 annually from 2020 to 2022. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1‑4, and the second leading cause of injury death for children ages 5‑14. More than half of U.S. adults have never taken a swimming lesson, and formal instruction is proven to reduce the risk of drowning. By preserving this pool, UTA ensures access to life‑skills and water‑safety training that protect students and the broader community,  not just recreational laps.

Closing or demolishing the swimming pools would also directly impact the faculty, staff, and student employees who rely on these facilities for their livelihoods and professional growth. Lifeguards, swim instructors, maintenance staff, and recreation professionals would face job losses; student employees who rely on part‑time aquatics jobs for tuition support would lose those opportunities; and faculty who use the pool for kinesiology, physical education, aquatic therapy, or research would lose a critical teaching and practice space. The ripple effect would extend beyond student wellness to threaten the careers, income, and development of many members of the UTA community.

Furthermore, many students, faculty, alumni, and Arlington residents rely on these pools for exercise, therapy, mental‑wellness breaks, social connection, and community building. Swimming offers low‑impact fitness, rehab/therapy options, stress relief, and water‑safety training in ways many other campus spaces cannot. A loss of this resource would disrupt routines, deny access to inclusive aquatic activities, and remove a space that unites the UTA community across generations.

We believe that the UTA community should preserve this important facility and explore sustainable ways to finance its maintenance and upgrade rather than shutting it down. By collaborating with student bodies, alumni networks, local businesses, swim clubs, community organizations, and UTA’s administration, viable solutions can be developed to guarantee the long‑term viability of the campus pools.

We urge you to join us in our call to action: support keeping the UTA swimming pools functional for today’s students and tomorrow’s Mavericks. We urge UTA to preserve these pools not only for recreational use but as a fully functional competitive aquatics facility, supporting student-athletes, swim clubs, and water-sports programs. Sign this petition to show the university administration the value these pools provide for health, recreation, education, community connection, water safety, and heritage. With your help, we can continue UTA’s swimming legacy and ensure it remains a vibrant, inclusive resource for future generations.

Thank you.