Lombard's new pool deemed best in state

The Lombard Park District is on a quite a roll.

Its new Paradise Bay Water Park is the winner of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association's Outstanding Facility and Park Award.

And that comes on the heels of another honor, the 2009 National Gold Medal for Excellence awarded in October by the National Recreation and Park Association.

"It's been a really great year to be with the Lombard Park District," said Executive Director Paul Friedrichs.

The $9 million Paradise Bay Water Park opened in June, and includes the 140,000-gallon Hurricane Cover leisure pool; a 12-foot dive well with two diving boards and a drop slide; a lap pool and a tot pool. All the pools have either a zero edge or stairs for accessibility.

The judges looked at the facility's design, accessibility, impact on the community, community involvement, use of environmentally friendly materials and budget. Paradise Bay scored the highest total points in the state.

The fact that residents approved a tax increase for the pool work played a major role, Friedrichs said.

"Obviously, it's another feather in the cap of the Lombard Park District, but it really shows what Lombard is all about. When there is a need, the taxpayers are willing to provide money for facilities."

Paradise Bay is built on the site of the old Moran Water Park, and the park district tried to recycle as much of the material as possible from the old pool, Friedrichs said. For example, concrete from the old pool was crushed and used as the base layer of the new pool.

Attendance totaled 93,000 last summer, despite the unseasonably chilly temperatures.

"We've gotten nothing but wonderful responses and reviews by folks who attended the pool last summer," Friedrichs said.