MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin is permanently closing the swimming
pool inside the Kathleen and Tom Elam Center. The closure is effective immediately. The cost of repairs,
the need for major renovations, and declining student and community usage prompted the decision. The
Elam Center was constructed in 1976 and the pool was last renovated in 2004.
The new UT Martin Campus Master Plan calls for the current pool space to be converted to an
indoor recreational space. This new space would create more opportunities for athletic practices and
intramural events. The Master Plan also calls for construction of a new pool, but design work and
funding are not yet available, and no timetable has been set.