Roselle, Bloomingdale offer joint pool pass
The Bloomingdale and Roselle park districts will form a rare partnership this summer, allowing residents of both districts the option to access each of their pools for the season.
Residents can now buy a Super Pass for $30 more than a regular season’s pass, which will admit them to Bloomingdale’s Oasis Water Park and Roselle’s Kemmerling Pool. Normal passes are still available that allow access to one pool, too.
Officials said they’ve been planning the partnership for about two years, saying this summer will be a test run of the program. The initial idea, said Roselle Executive Director Rob Ward, is to make summer swimming more convenient for neighbors.
“Roselle in particular has some odd boundaries, where you might have neighbors on either side of a street, and one side might be Roselle Park District, and the other side might be Bloomingdale,” Ward said. “We wanted to give the families an option, so they wouldn’t have to spend double the money if one friend wanted to meet at an out-of-district pool.”
Super Pass users will also benefit by having extra days at the pool. For example, Roselle will be open Memorial Day weekend, Ward said, while Bloomingdale doesn’t open until one week later.
Sandy Vangundy, Bloomingdale director of recreation, said initially the extra $30 will likely not make a significant boost in revenue for either park district. But if the program becomes a success, it could ultimately lead to some savings for both districts, Ward added.
“It could lead to some cost-sharing and rotating, so both districts can keep in mind those tax dollar expenditures we may not need to be duplicating,” said Ward
“If it seems to be mutually beneficial, one pool might stay open later one summer and the other might stay open later the next summer, saving money on lifeguards, chemicals and other expenses.”
Residents can purchase the Super Pass at their home park district in Bloomingdale or Roselle. For details, call (630) 529-3650 or visit bloomingdaleparks.org, or (630) 894-4200 or rparks.org.