Pool taking shape at Carol Stream rec center site
Construction crews on Monday began digging out space for what will become an eight-lane, 25-yard-long swimming pool in Carol Stream — one of the last pieces of the park district's new recreation center taking shape at the village Town Center.
Park district officials said the two-story, 90,846-square-foot facility is on target for a scheduled soft opening this summer, with a grand opening planned for Labor Day weekend. A construction season with little snow has enabled work crews to complete construction of the running track, 90 percent of the roof, drilling of holes for geothermal systems, and a parking lot with eco-friendly permeable pavers.
Park district Executive Director Arnie Biondo said in addition to the pool, the major work to be done is construction of the building's interior walls. Temporary heating units have been installed while workers complete indoor work.
Students at the four high schools of Glenbard High School District 87 — particularly those at nearby Glenbard North — will have use of the pool for physical education classes, as will swim teams, under an intergovernmental agreement approved by the school and park district boards last year. Residents of Glendale Heights and those who live within the boundaries of the Winfield Park District will also be able to use the pool and pay the same resident rates as those who live within the borders of the Carol Stream Park District.
Construction of the $18 million facility, to be called the Fountain View Recreation Center, officially commenced after a groundbreaking in October 2011, though progress to passers-by became most visible last spring when the building's walls were installed. Until that point, most of the workhad been done underground.
The recreation center is the marquee project of a $37 million parks improvement program approved by voters a in February 2010 referendum question. It will also feature a gymnasium with three basketball courts, fitness center and program rooms.
Meanwhile, park board commissioners Monday expressed disappointment at the delay in progress over the design of new signs for the Town Center site, located at Gary Avenue and Lies Road.
The park district and village are splitting the $21,900 cost to design alterations to two existing signs on site that will be grinded down to feature the names of both the Town Center and Fountain View Recreation Center. Members of both boards met last May to discuss plans for shared signage.
Williams Architects, the rec center architect, is expected to present designs to each board and a probable cost of construction. The village board has final say on any modifications to the signs since they are on village property.
With just months to go before the scheduled opening of the rec center, commissioners said they want to make sure the signs get done in time.
“It would be good to do a letter of understanding to make sure (the village) understands where we're coming from and say this is our deadline to have (the signs) picked out,” said park board Vice President Wynn Ullman.
Construction of the facility is expected to be complete by June, with the “soft opening” targeted for Aug. 1.