May 18th 2024.
Summer is just around the corner and two beloved spots in Elgin are getting ready to welcome visitors once again. After being closed for several years, the Lords Park Family Aquatic Center and the splash pad at Festival Park are finally reopening their doors.
The Lords Park pool had been closed for four years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and budget constraints. But thanks to the efforts of a group of determined residents, the city council decided to allocate funds for repairs and bring back the pool for this summer.
Last July, the council voted to spend $500,000 on necessary repairs to ensure the pool could open this season. Maria Cumpata, the director of Parks and Recreation, shared that they are currently filling the pool and conducting tests on the mechanical systems. Once they pass the inspection by the Illinois Department of Public Health, the official opening date for Lords Park will be announced.
Meanwhile, Wing Park Family Aquatic Center is set to open on June 1st, according to Cumpata. The closure of Lords Park pool for the past four years has left it in need of some maintenance work. This includes resurfacing the bathhouse floors, finishing and repainting the flume slides, installing new chlorinators and chemical units, and adding new water fountains. The main pool has also been repainted and new rope has been installed around the pool deck.
One of the main concerns for the Parks and Recreation department was finding enough lifeguards to staff all three of Elgin's pools, including Lords Park, Wing Park, and the indoor pool at the Edward Schock Centre. Cumpata shared that they have successfully hired a full staff for all three pools, despite the shortage of lifeguards locally and nationally.
Over at Festival Park, the splash pad is also making a comeback after being closed last year due to mechanical issues. Cumpata explained that the repairs involved replacing the pump, jet, and control system, which cost over $1 million. Some minor touch-ups and aesthetic enhancements are also scheduled for this summer, with the splash pad set to open on Memorial Day weekend pending final approval from the state public health department.
It's an exciting time for Elgin residents who have been eagerly waiting for these summertime destinations to reopen. So get ready to make a splash at Lords Park and enjoy the cool waters at Wing Park Family Aquatic Center. And don't forget to stop by the Festival Park splash pad for some fun under the sun. See you there!
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