Four years after a section of its wall collapsed, the District’s Woodrow Wilson High School pool is finally being demolished and rebuilt as a community aquatics center.
Work started Aug. 13 to tear down the center, which closed in July 2003 after a piece of its rear wall crashed down. The facility, at the intersection of Wisconsin Avenue and Albemarle Street Northwest, is now nothing more than a pile of rubble, which couldn’t make community leaders happier.
“This is just such a great day,” said Jack Koczela, whose mother Ruth was integral in having the initial Wilson Pool building constructed. “I mean, it’s been four years.”
Mayor Adrian Fenty, joined by D.C. Council Members Kwame Brown, at-large, and Mary Cheh, Ward 3, ceremonially kicked-off the demolition Monday.
The new $22.5 million facility will include a 50-meter pool, an adult whirlpool, seating for 477 spectators, locker rooms with 500 lockers and family changing cabanas.
