Outdoor pools in Des Plaines opening Friday for lap swim, practices
The Des Plaines Park District is getting ready to open its two outdoor neighborhood pools on Friday for adult lap swim and team practice, with the possibility of hosting open public swimming as soon as a week later.
Much of the latter depends on whether the state moves into Phase 4 of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois reopening plan by then. But for now, the park district is allowed to reopen Chippewa and Iroquois pools on a limited basis under Phase 3.
Under the district's plans, Chippewa will host team practices starting Friday from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. daily except Sunday. The pool will be closed for cleaning before lap swimming each day from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
At Iroquois, lap swimming is scheduled daily from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 to 7:30 p.m.
The pools will be open only to lap swimmers ages 18 and older, and no lifeguards will be posted for lap swimming, which is at patrons' own risk, officials said.
A maximum of 10 people will be permitted in the pool at a time on a first-come, first-served basis. Guests must enter the facility wearing a face mask or covering, but a mask is not required while swimming or while socially distanced from others by at least six feet, officials said.
Residents and nonresidents can pay a daily admission fee or buy a season pool pass.
According to a preliminary plan for Phase 4, the district would host three daily open swimming sessions that would also be available first-come, first-served, with capacity limits to be determined based on state guidance. The pools would close at least three times daily for cleaning. Deck chairs would be set up at a distance.
While holding out hope for the two neighborhood pools to reopen, parks officials decided earlier not to open the centrally located Mystic Waters Aquatic Center due to the shortened season and anticipated capacity limits.
But they are still going forward with plans to open the new Prairie Lakes Indoor Aquatic Center on Saturday, July 18. The 27,185-square-foot addition to the community center on Thacker Street will include an eight-lane, 25-yard pool, a three-lane wellness pool, and a splash-pad area for children.