The pool will open this summer! There’s an exclamation mark at the end of that sentence because last year, to the disappointment of many, COVID-19 cases and restrictions led to the park district’s decision to keep the pool closed. Now? Residents and pool guests can’t wait to dive into summer fun at the park district this year.
While swimming will be allowed, there will, of course, be restrictions in place to ensure the health and safety of guests. The plan is to open the pool for two-hour periods, then close it for half an hour to clean and sanitize. Then open again and repeat. Executive Director Jackie Iovinelli said staff will adjust as needed and follow guidelines provided by health departments, which may change over the course of the summer.
Pool rates will be finalized at the board meeting on April 15 and announced on Friday, April 16. Pool passes will go on sale on Monday, April 19.
And the pool will open again on Saturday, May 29.
For the most part, said Iovinelli, the park is well-staffed for the summer but is still looking to hire and train some lifeguards. Interested individuals should visit the park district’s website at pdofp.org.
Iovinelli said the spray ground will be open as well, with guidelines on its use coming soon and also subject to change as the summer progresses. Plans to renovate the spray ground are underway, but ground won’t be broken until the close of the pool season at the end of the season and won’t interfere with summer fun.
The skate park will close on April 19 for about a month, but it’s getting a complete redesign, so skateboarders will have something to look forward to in May.
Other things to look forward to include the No Glove Tournament and the Fourth of July fireworks show, both cancelled last year because of the pandemic. Details haven’t been finalized but plans will be announced soon.
After the big summer events, the park district plans to hold meet and greets in August at two of the pocket parks, which the park district officially takes over from the village on June 1. Iovinelli said there will be one event held at the park on 16th Street and Circle Avenue and one at Remembrance Park across from Grant White school. A barbecue and possibly a band may be part of the fun, and the goal is to get as many neighbors to come out as possible to share their thoughts about the parks.
“We want to get the neighborhood and the community out there and ask them, if this space was a blank slate, what would you like to see?” Iovinelli said.
