Manifesto
To preserve the Oak Ridge Outdoor Pool, affectionately known as “The Big Pool,” and ensure this iconic landmark remains a vibrant part of our community’s heritage. We are dedicated to rallying support from residents, local leaders, preservation experts, and pool lovers everywhere to protect and celebrate the unique historical, cultural, and recreational value of The Big Pool. Through our civic engagement platform, we aim to foster community participation, raise awareness, and inspire action to save this beloved piece of Oak Ridge’s history.
The great conversations happening today about protecting beloved places and pieces of our shared heritage ultimately come down to one core purpose – safeguarding the rich tapestry of human experiences that weave us all together across generations. Our philosophies, our values, our drives to preserve cannot be separated from the cultural histories embodied by treasures like The Big Pool.
From its origins providing relief to Manhattan Project workers in 1944 to the childhoods sculpted by its spring-fed waters over 80 summers to the contemporary calls to secure its future vitality.
Colorized Ed Westcott – Department of Energy Manhattan Project
The Big Pool’s journey is interwoven with Oak Ridge’s story of community. Preserving it is about more than restoring concrete and steel. It’s about being a depository for the historical wisdom etched into its very existence – the pursuit of joy, refreshment, and togetherness even amid humanity’s most challenging endeavors.
Just as we build on our past to shape our future, preserving The Big Pool honors our history while creating new opportunities for community growth. Its revitalization is a chance to amplify the ripples of heritage that united us, extending that current of community bonding for generations to come. If we let this living legacy slip away, we risk going adrift, disconnected from the profound moorings of our identity.
