The building has been empty since the YWCA left last fall, after encountering financial problems. It is not known how vandals entered the building or where they set off several fire extinguishers that triggered fire alarms, but according to a police report a back door was found unlocked and there were no signs of forced entry.
Peoria Notre Dame High School had been renting the building from the Heartland Partnerships but had been "barred" from using it after damage had been done, according to the report. Officials from Heartland said they would not comment on an ongoing investigation.
Notre Dame Athletic Director, Matt Blackford said the high school used the building for basketball practice - as it had when it was occupied by the YWCA - for between $1,500 and $3,000 per month from October through February.
Blackford said he did not have any knowledge of the school not being allowed to use the facilities at Lakeview.
1 comment:
I had MAJOR back surgery in '06. The surgeon sent me to do water therapy with a therapist at the "Turtle Pool" inside the now-empty Y. That pool was a major factor in my recovery, to where I purchased a membership when my therapy sessions ended. That pool was used by a LOT of people everyday for therapy. I have no idea why no one has stepped forward to privately invest in this building and at least get the pools up and running. It's literally a goldmine waiting to be discovered and would not lack use, especially by the hoards of us who used it regularly for exercise and therapy. Unless I'm wrong, there is no other pool like it in central Illinois. I have to be honest, I could not continue my membership after a year because the Y's fees were just too much. If you open the Turtle Pool, They Will Come!!
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