Open houses set to discuss beach bathhouse improvements

Residents can share their ideas for the future of Naperville's Centennial Beach bathhouse at a pair of forums over the next month.

Park district leaders hope to renovate the interior of the limestone structure, built in 1934, while maintaining the "historic integrity" of the exterior, marketing and communications manager Sameera Luthman said.

The building houses lockers, showers, changing stalls, toilets, a guardhouse and storage at the beach, 500 W. Jackson Ave.

Officials say they have no plans to replace the bathhouse but rather want to enhance it and bring its amenities up to contemporary standards.

Among the possible challenges will be improving pedestrian and vehicular flow, replacing inadequate lockers and showers, improving disabled access, replacing outdated electrical and plumbing systems, and providing more space for staff and storage.

With that in mind, the park board hired Williams Architects to serve as project consultant and to prepare renovation plans.

Before doing that, though, the district and architects have both said they want to collect as much input as possible. They began with an open house at the beach in July and will continue this week with an open house from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the city hall lunch room at 400 S. Eagle St.

A second open house is scheduled from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at city hall.

Luthman said participants will be able to stop by city hall at any time during the open houses to meet with park staff members and architects to offer input and ask questions.

"Centennial Beach is a place that is loved by so many residents and visitors and we recognize that any improvements to the bathhouse must include input from those patrons," Director of Planning Eric Shutes said in a prepared statement. "We do realize, however, that whatever renovations occur, we must ensure that the facility's historic nature is preserved."

Once the open houses are completed, Luthman said the architects and district hope to finalize improvement plans this fall.

Renovations likely would begin after the 2009 beach season and be completed before the start of the 2010 swimming season.

No cost estimates are available yet, Luthman said.

If you go

What: Open house for community comments about renovations to Naperville's Centennial Beach bathhouse

When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 10

Where: The lunch room at the Naperville Municipal Center, 400 S Eagle St.

Info: (630) 848-5000 or napervilleparks.org