Penn Hills School District Celebrates Reopening of Matthew M. Alcorn Natatorium’s Large Pool

December 12, 2024 – Penn Hills – The Penn Hills School District proudly reopened the Matthew M. Alcorn Natatorium's large pool, after it was closed for over a year, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. 

Superintendent Dr. John Mozzocio addressed students, staff, and community members, expressing his excitement about the return of this vital resource. "This pool has been an essential part of the district and community for decades. We are thrilled to reopen it with the improvements needed to ensure its longevity and safety for years to come."

In addition to Dr. Mozzocio, remarks were made by Athletic Director Stephanie Strauss, Penn Hills Varsity Swim Coach Morgan Bush, and Penn Hills Senior and Swimmer Anthony Collins. Collins reflected on the importance of the pool for students like him, saying, "Over a year ago, I attended a board meeting to talk about the importance of reopening the pool, and today it's happening."

Following the speeches, School Board President Erin Vecchio and School Board Vice-President Jackie Blakey-Tate cut the ribbon officially marking the pool's reopening. The event concluded with swim practice, where students took their first dive back into the pool they deeply missed. 

The renovation included extensive updates to the pool's filtration and drainage systems, including the installation of 34 new 3-inch floor drains with strainers, replacements of 3-inch PVC SCH 80 pipes and fittings, and the addition of hangers and brackets for structural support. All lines and connections were thoroughly tested to ensure a leak-free system. 

While the large pool is now ready for use by the Penn Hills Swim Team for practices and meets, the small pool is still in the final stages of planning. Renovation work on the small pool is expected to begin soon, with plans for it to eventually serve as a warm-up pool and provide opportunities for swim lessons and other programming for younger students and community members. 

For more information, contact Lydia Richardson at lricha@phsd.org.