Swimmers take a nostalgic dive as Arlington Heights pool closes for renovations

Arlington Heights residents introduced their reminiscences together with their swim trunks for closing day at Recreation Pool Sunday.

The pool, which is getting a makeover, is anticipated to open someday subsequent summer season. In honor of the final day, the Arlington Heights Park District held Rec & Roll Back in Time — an occasion bathed in nostalgia because the district introduced again outdated lifeguards and blasted Sixties rock.

Built within the late Nineteen Thirties and formally opened in June 1939, Recreation Park’s Olympic-sized pool was the park district’s first outside aquatic facility. It underwent main transforming in 1987—1988, increasing to a full 50-meter size and including a zero-depth wading space.

The park district won’t solely change the pool, but in addition renovate the Nineteen Thirties Works Progress Administration — period recreation constructing. The district will even construct a brand new bathhouse and concessions constructing.

When the pool reopens subsequent yr, there might be one thing from the outdated pool left. Water from the pool was scooped up and picked up in vials Sunday. On opening day, the saved water might be poured into the renovated pool.

The Arlington Heights Park District has acquired a $2.8 million grant for the mission from the state of Illinois by means of the Park and Recreational Facility Construction Act (PARC) program. The remaining funding for the $25 million mission comes from reserves.

Among these taking one final dip was Nate Schroeder, a Mount Prospect resident who grew up in Arlington Heights. Schroeder, whose late father Michael, a dentist who served as Wheeling Township supervisor and Arlington Heights village president, was as soon as a lifeguard on the pool, introduced his daughter Cora.

“The pool was just kind of always weaved into our whole childhood,” mentioned Emily Schroeder, Nate’s sister. “We grew up coming here and doing the night swims. My dad would take a break from work, and he’d do laps in the pool.”

One notable change includes flipping the pool structure: the deep finish will transfer to the far facet, whereas the shallow finish might be positioned nearer to the newborn pool. Despite these adjustments, the pool will keep its 50-meter size. In addition, the park district is bringing again the excessive dive.

The new services will allow expanded programming, particularly for seniors, Park District Executive Director Carrie Fullerton mentioned.

“This pool has been open for over nine decades. My family specifically has been coming here for over five of those decades,” park board President Maryfran Leno mentioned. “So it’s very nostalgic. But it’s time to redo Rec Park for the community.”