The Park District of Oak Park is preparing to ask its residents in March to approve a $40 million tax hike to pay for construction of an indoor pool to replace an outdoor pool at Lake Street and Ridgeland Avenue. In response to the concerns of some Oak Parkers over losing access to one of its two outdoor pools, preliminary conversations have begun between the executive directors of the Oak Park and Forest Park park districts about ways the two could share access to an indoor facility in Oak Park and the aquatics center in Forest Park.
The discussions are informal at this point, and it is unknown if Oak Park voters will approve the tax hike referendum on the March 17 ballot.
The discussions between Jackie Iovinelli, executive director of the Park District of Forest Park and Jan Arnold, head of the Oak Park parks system, have involved allowing Forest Park residents to swim at the potential indoor Oak Park pool for their membership rates and vice versa.
Iovinelli said she and Arnold have a working relationship where they talk about their respective projects.
“I said, ‘If you guys are talking about an indoor aquatic facility, can we have a seat at your table?’” Iovinelli told the Review. “We wouldn’t be being fiscally responsible by both building indoor pools, but our residents want one just as much as Oak Park.”
In very preliminary discussions, Iovinelli said that, if Oak Park gets an indoor pool to replace the Ridgeland Common outdoor pool, Oak Park residents would likely still want a second outdoor option like the Forest Park aquatic center.
Oak Park currently has a second outdoor pool at Rehm Park at East Avenue and Garfield.
“And if it’s a -30 degree like today,” Iovinelli said during a Jan. 23 interview, “any community is going to try to choose an indoor aquatic facility.” She added, “If we can get an opportunity for our residents of Forest Park to have an indoor pool, we absolutely will.”
But it’s about more than just the residents of Forest Park.
“What I like about the opportunity is, instead of Forest Park has only this for us and Oak Park has only this for us, why can’t we work together so that it can be for all?” Iovinelli said. “We’re just two communities trying to come together for the good of everybody.”
The Park District of Forest Park has been trying to find a leak in its outdoor aquatic center for the past few years. Iovinelli said they have found where the leak is, and it will be repaired by the summer.
Resident passes for the Forest Park aquatic center last year were $70 per person.
Bob Skolnik, a freelance reporter for Growing Community Media, contributed to this story.
