Residents turn out for Lombard water park opening
It might have only been in the 60s Saturday afternoon, but Eddie Vercruysse didn't care.
The 4-year-old gleefully splashed around the zero-depth pool at Lombard's new Paradise Bay Water Park with dad Brian.
It was a little cold for mom Julie and 3-year-old brother Brett to wade in, but they were just as excited.
"We've been waiting for weeks for this, watching it go up through the fence," she said.
The roughly $9.3 million aquatic facility at 433 E. St. Charles Road held its grand opening Saturday, with a 10:30 a.m. ribbon-cutting, followed by a kids jump-in at 11 a.m.
The facility includes a 140,000-gallon Hurricane Cove leisure pool; a 12-foot dive well with two diving boards and a drop slide; an eight-lane pool; and a zero-depth pool.
Lombard residents voted in 2008 to raise taxes to build a new pool to replace the aging Moran Water Park. The old pool needed at least $7 million in repairs, officials said.
"We held community forums; listened to what the residents wanted," Park District Executive Director Paul Friedrichs said. The new pool was finished both on time and thousands of dollars under budget.
Assistant swim lesson manager Gerianne Johnson said that two young residents were waiting to enter the park at 6:30 a.m.
They were allowed down the water slides first, she said.
By noon, nearly 300 swimmers had tested the waters.
Friedrichs said lifeguards made two rescues within the first five minutes of the pool's opening.
"Everyone was fine," he said. "It keeps the guards on their toes."
The park employs about 150 individuals, most between the ages of 16 and 19, Friedrichs said.
In addition to open swims, the park offers learn to swim, snorkeling, scuba, kayaking and water aerobics lessons. Sports include water volleyball and basketball, and special programs range from a family carnival and "dive-in" movie ("Surf's Up") to teen nights.
Admission is by season pass, or $8 for adult residents and $6 for child and senior residents. Evening rates are lower. For details, visit lombardparks.com or call (630) 627-6127.
"We're not able to take a summer vacation this year," Julie Vercruysse said. "This really is our getaway."