New Area Aquatics Center to Be Named After Distinguished Independent School
Collegiate School, a member of the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP), announced today that it will lend its name to the new state-of-the-art aquatics center. It will be officially named the “Collegiate School Aquatics Center”.Located in Chesterfield County, the aquatics center is the latest addition to Ukrop Park, which is the Richmond Kickers Club’s 46-acre sports complex. The new facility will also be the home of Poseidon Swimming.
“We are thrilled to join with our partners in leading the effort to bring a world-class aquatics center to Richmond and Chesterfield County,” said Collegiate Head of School Keith Evans. “Our investment will provide our swimmers with a home pool while giving us a chance to help GRAP reach its goal of teaching every second-grader to swim by 2020.”
Aquatics Center Features
- Located in Ukrop Park at the intersection of Chippenham Parkway and Ironbridge Road, Dale District, Chesterfield County
- 54,000+ square foot facility
- Three pools
- 50 meter, eight lane, competition pool (the pool used at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials in Omaha, NE where some of the country’s best swimmers set many national records)
- Therapy pool, complete with two underwater treadmills and diagnostic video equipment
- 25-yard, warm water pool will be available for lessons
- 7,000 square foot mezzanine grandstand will seat up to 700 enthusiastic spectators
“Chesterfield County is very pleased to have Collegiate School join the county in this endeavor,” said County Administrator Jay Stegmaier. “Its continued quest for excellence, both in and out of the classroom, has earned Collegiate quite a reputation. We look forward to working with the school to further grow its presence in Chesterfield County.
Collegiate currently holds its swim practices in the evening at St. Catherine’s School. With the opening of the Collegiate School Aquatics Center, the school will shift its practices to afternoons starting next November. “The aquatics center is only 18 minutes from our main campus yet gives us an opportunity to have an expanded presence in the Greater Richmond Metropolitan area. We have terrific partners to work with and have enjoyed the support of Chesterfield County’s leadership from day one,” said Evans.
The Collegiate School Aquatics Center has become a reality due to the collaboration of five of our area’s finest education and sports organizations: Collegiate School, Trinity Episcopal School, Poseidon Swimming, Richmond Kickers Youth Soccer Club, Sports Backers and the many community leaders who formed the Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership (GRAP).
“This new center will have a catalytic impact by providing a community-wide focus on swimming and water safety,” said Bobby Ukrop, Chairman of the Board, Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership.
The Collegiate School Aquatics Center is centrally located in the Dale District of Chesterfield County.
“What a great announcement for both Chesterfield County and the entire region. With sports being a key component of our overall tourism effort, the new facility will have terrific economic impact attracting visitors from up and down the East Coast,” said Dale Supervisor Jim Holland.
The Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership will be hosting a grand opening event on March 13, 2012.
Media Contacts:
Keith Evans
Collegiate School
kevans@collegiate-va.org
804-741-9702
Bobby Ukrop
Greater Richmond Aquatics Partnership
bobby.ukrop@ukrops.com
804-340-3105
Will Davis
Chesterfield County Economic Development
wdavis@chesterfieldbusiness.com
804-318-8558
