A fundraiser was held at Bayou Desiard Country Club last Tuesday night in an effort to save the natatorium. Community members were encouraged to make donations that will keep the natatorium open.

Money continues to come in, but the latest estimates put the total raised at over $200,000.

Douglass Whiteaker, principal architect of Water Technology Inc., presented options on restoring the natatorium. The project would keep and repair the competition pool but replace other areas with a leisure pool, play features and underwater exercise equipment. A new covered walkway, a dock leading to the bayou and other outdoor features would also be added.

The project is estimated to cost around $2.7 million, whereas to tear the natatorium down and replace it with something else would cost around $30 million, according to the Save the Natatorium group.

The community needs the support of the students if they want to keep the natatorium around.

“We are going to put our money where our mouth is to save this facility,” said Tom Baker, a ULM graduate and supporter of keeping the natatorium. “We want to partner with the students and come up with something we can all agree on.”

Baker is challenging community members to pledge anywhere from $20 per year to $2,000 per year or even just a one-time donation.

Community members involved want to minimize expense and maximize revenue. To do this, the facility will be rentable to people of all ages. If the facility is renovated, increases in memberships are expected.

Money raised by the community to save the natatorium will go toward the proposed project.

Students will vote this week on the fate of the nat. If the students choose not to save the facility and replace it with proposed ideas of recreational and activity areas, the money raised will be placed into a new nonprofit organization.

An alternate plan changes the nat into an event center.

“I feel like it’s ridiculous to replace a facility designed for physical fitness with a facility that promotes a sedentary lifestyle in what is already considered to be an ‘obese’ America,” said Lance Beeson, a sophomore kinesiology major from West Monroe.