Lindenhurst puts pool idea on hold

For several years, the Lindenhurst park board has tried to figure out how to give residents what they've been asking for: an aquatic center in the village.

They've hired consultants, sent out surveys to neighboring communities and asked for partnerships with other municipalities.

On Tuesday, those efforts came to a halt when the park board decided the economy is not strong enough to ask voters in a referendum to pay for the project.

"At this point, I think we would be better off postponing any decisions for at least a year," said Dean Parkman, park board president. "There is no doubt that even if we do get a partner for the project, we are still going to have to go to referendum, and at this point, we still don't know enough."

The park district has been considering a pool since 2004 when 58 percent of survey respondents ranked "aquatic facility" as their top priority.

A feasibility study completed in February 2007 showed an indoor facility built onto the existing Lindenhurst Community Center, 2200 E. Grass Lake Road, would cost $15.7 million and increase property tax bills by $338 annually.

An outdoor aquatic facility in Lindenhurst would cost $11.5 million and boost tax bills $210 annually.

Parkman said the board will have a better idea of Lindenhurst's economic situation once the Village Green project is completed. Village Green is a massive residential and retail development planned on Route 45, just north of Grand Avenue.

Another thing the park district has to take into consideration is the possibility of both Antioch Elementary District 34 and Lake Villa School District 41 having referendums in the next year, Parkman said.

Earlier this year, the park board asked Antioch, Lake Villa, Lake Villa Township and Community High School District 117 if they wanted to embark on a joint effort to get the pool built, but only District 117 responded and said no.

Lindenhurst park board members said Tuesday they are still holding out hope Antioch, which has also stalled its aquatic center plans, might come around to the idea of a partnership.

"The only downside of postponing is there is always a constant increase in the cost of constructing (the aquatic center)," said Tom Lippert, executive director of the parks department. "But with the foreclosures and gasoline prices, we should wait. In the meantime, we can get people who are really energized about this to start getting the community excited."