Naperville plans first Pre-Season Plunge at Centennial Beach

Yes, Ray McGury will take part in the Pre-Season Plunge into Centennial Beach on Sunday.

No, he will not be wearing a Speedo.

"I'm going to plunge in the shallow end and will be as fully clothed as possible in the interest of humanity and all that is right with the world," joked McGury, the Naperville Park District's executive director.

The park district's inaugural Pre-Season Plunge begins at 1 p.m. today and will be a chance to take a quick dip at the beach on Jackson Avenue two weeks before it opens. The event is free.

Aquatics Manager Andrea Coates said the shallow end will be open, but she's not expecting anyone to stay in the water long enough for a frigid freestyle.

"Jump in, get the thrill and get out," she said.

Warm drinks will be available for the plungers afterward, and Centennial Beach lifeguards will do demonstrations of safety drills and training routines.

The beach, a former stone quarry, recently underwent its annual draining and cleaning routine. Filling the beach with 6.2 million gallons of water takes about 10 days, according to Coates.

One lucky family will win a Centennial Beach membership. Memberships also will be on sale at preseason rates. For Naperville residents that means $32 for youths and seniors, $42 for adults and $142 for families.

Centennial Beach season officially runs May 29 to Sept. 6 and attracts about 155,000 visitors a year.

After this summer, the park district is planning a $5.5 million improvement to the bathhouse, which was originally built in 1934.

For information on the swim season, visit centennialbeach.org.