FINALLY! That’s the only way to describe it. After 45 years, Joe C. Trees Pool on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh is undergoing a two-million dollar renovation.

Head Coach Chuck Knoles stated “Everyone has worked so hard for so many years to get this renovation going. We’ve been helping to plan it for the last 18 years. Assistant Head Coach for Diving Julian Krug in his 30th year at Pitt, and I were ecstatic when we finally heard the news that the renovation was slated to begin.”

“Athletic Director Steve Pederson has been very instrumental in helping our university and the swimming and diving program move forward on their quest to be the best in the Big East Conference once again,” added Knoles.

Trees Pool was one of the last 55-yard pools built in the USA. Completed in 1962, the 55-yard long-course distance pool at Trees was the “Commonwealth Distance” swum by the US, England and in the Commonwealth of Great Britain. 55-yards is about one foot longer than the now dominant 50-meter course used all over the world as the “long course” Olympic distance.

Trees Pool has been the site of at least one AAU National Championship. At that meet in 1964, a then new American Record-holder Donna DeVarona (of NBC sports commentating fame) swam at Trees pool to defend her National title in the Individual Medley.

The renovation of Trees Pool will take about four months and is scheduled to be done by September 1, 2008. Updates will include a new surface inside the pool, all new tiled decking, a new one-meter platform for springboard diving, new deck heating, a new stainless steel gutter system and new pool circulation and filtration. The pool will also be shortened to 50-meters.