Wednesday, Apr 17, 2019
Fundraising continues, with $1.5 million goal set to complete the major refurbishment
This fall, when the Rider University swimming and diving teams begin their training for the upcoming season, they'll be practicing in a newly renovated pool. Thanks to a significant donor gift intended to jumpstart fundraising, construction is already well underway.
Once completed, the renovation of Rider’s Richard A. Coppola Pool — named for the much beloved former swimming and diving coach — will transform the swimming experience for both casual swimmers and athletes of the Broncs champion men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams.
Included among the improvements, funded by long-time Rider supporters Wayne '72 and Jill '72 Canastra, will be a new pool deck and basin, filtration upgrades, a better drainage system and a new one- and three-meter dive stand.
"With the scope of work outlined in this exciting project, the University will improve the infrastructure of the pool in a more complete, systematic way than we have had the capacity to do in the past," says Head Coach Stephen Fletcher. "This project will give our current team and future generations of swimmers, divers and coaches the opportunity to build a program that is shared and passed down for yet another generation."
Together, the Rider men’s and women’s swimming and diving teams have earned a total of 20 championships, including the current streak of eight consecutive MAAC titles for the men. "Our swimming and diving teams have been extremely successful and they deserve to compete in a true Division I facility that will support their current needs as well as the future development of the program,“ says Athletic Director Don Harnum.
The pool, which was drained and closed soon after the swimming season ended, is expected to reopen Sept. 1. Additional work on the heating and ventilation system will be performed during the summer but should not impact the use of the pool.
With an initial investment of $200,000, the University replaced the pool’s boiler system and added new starting blocks and LED lighting last fall. Shortly thereafter, South Orange residents and alumni Wayne and Jill Canastra stepped forward with a $700,000 gift for additional renovations. Although the Canastras, owners of a property management company, were never members of the swimming and diving team when they were students at Rider, they say their gift was made simply in recognition of the important role the aquatic facility plays at the University and for the surrounding community.
They hope the gift will inspire other alumni and friends of the University to come up with $300,000 in additional funds, bringing the entire cost of the project to $1.5 million. This will enable the University to complete the facility’s refurbishment by providing new spectator seating for swim meets, replacing the pool’s scoreboard and record board, and adding windows and upgraded lighting. An unveiling of pool renovation plans was shared with current and former swimming and diving team members and others during an on-campus event March 30.
Those wishing to support the Richard A. Coppola Pool renovation project can make a gift by visiting www.rider.edu/CoppolaPoolProject. For more information, contact Associate Director of Major Gifts Matt Mastrianni at 609-896-5291 or [email protected].