Lombard moves forward to to replace community pool

Lombard Park District officials are diving into plans for a new community pool.

A majority of voters this week supported the district's request to increase property taxes so it can borrow $5.9 million to replace Moran Water Park.

"We listened to the people. That was a big reason why it passed," Lombard Park Director Paul Friedrichs said of the ballot question.

The district formed focus groups, sent out surveys to residents and solicited feedback about the proposal on the Web.

Roughly 61 percent of the survey respondents told the district to put the pool question on the ballot. Nearly the same percentage of voters backed the measure, Friedrichs said.

"I'm very excited," park board President Char Roberts said. "The community that wanted the pool stuck with us."

Parks officials are planning to contact surrounding communities to ask if they're willing to offer Lombard residents a discounted pass to use their pools this summer, Friedrichs said.

This month, the park board will likely choose one of the four water park layouts so construction plans can be fine-tuned.

Park leaders are leaning toward a plan with a separate eight-lane lap pool and detached diving well because it will enable the rest of the facility to remain open to the public during swim meets, Friedrichs said. That discussion likely will occur during the Feb. 26 park board meeting.

Plans also include a new zero-depth leisure pool, a plunge pool, new bathhouse and concessions as well as a vortex or current channel, water slides and bowl slide.

Once finalized in late May, plans would go to Springfield for permitting, which usually takes four to six months for approval, Friedrichs said.

During that time, the district would proceed with demolition and site preparation so construction can begin as soon as the permit is approved. Leaders are aiming to get started this fall and finish by June 1, 2009.

The $9 million new pool will add roughly $35 to the property tax bill of the owner of a $300,000 home for about 16 years.

"We're going to build a great facility here in Lombard that everybody can be proud of," Friedrichs said. "Hopefully, it'll last as long as the last one (50 years) … and taxpayers will get the same bang for their buck."