Lombard voters approve plans for new pool

Lombard voters Tuesday agreed with their park board that the community needs a new pool.

The Lombard Park District sought permission to increase property taxes so it can borrow $5.9 million to replace Moran Water Park.

With all 45 precincts reporting, the vote was 7,122 in favor and 4,478 against, according to unofficial results.

"I'm very excited," park board President Char Roberts said. "The community that wanted the pool stuck with us."

Referendum campaign spokeswoman Kimberly Angland also was thrilled with the results.

"I'm really proud of the residents of Lombard," she said. "They really came together on something the community still needs."

Angland credited the consistency of the campaign message for the measure's success.

"We stuck to the facts," she said

The new pool facility is estimated to cost roughly $9 million, but the district has $3.5 million set aside.

The district's plan is to replace the 50-year-old main pool, bathhouse and dive well, as well as the 20-year-old wading pool, water slides and concession stands.

The district is considering four variations that include a new zero-depth wading, leisure, dive, plunge and lap pools, as well as a vortex or current channel, water slides and bowl slide, new bathhouse and concessions.

Of the $5.9 million requested, roughly $500,000 will be earmarked for improvements to athletic fields, paved paths, parking lots and fitness equipment.

The measure is expected to add roughly $35 to the property tax bill of the owner of a $300,000 home for roughly 16 years, parks officials said.

The park board decided to ask voters for a new water park after the lap pool's liner separated from the concrete in July.

Consultants hired by the district determined it would cost at least $7 million just to repair the pool and bring the facility up to code.

The new facility is expected to open for the 2009 swim season.