When it comes to outdoor pools, most renters don’t require anything fancy. An ordinary pool, a comfy chaise lounge, the scent of chlorine, and they’re happy. After all, how important can an outdoor pool be in a climate that assures it will go unused nine months a year?
But for some renters, a pool isn’t a pool unless it makes a statement. It has to be the kind of amenity that will leave their guests gasping, a place so nice they’ll gladly spend as many hours there as they will in their own apartments. In short, a pool that makes a real splash.
That said, Your Place set out to find the most charismatic pools in the Chicago area. We turned to an unbiased panel of experts from the Chicagoland Apartment Association and local apartment locating services to compile this list of the communities with great liquid assets.
– AMLI at Oakhurst North. Open just over a year, this 464-unit apartment community in Aurora boasts an asymmetrical heated outdoor pool that seems lifted right out of a resort. Surrounded by decorative urns and extensive landscaping featuring 30 varieties of flowers and shrubbery, the pool also offers music piped in from the clubhouse for residents’ enjoyment.
– Countryside Apartments. The distinctive summer attraction at this 28-year-old, 720-unit community in Palatine isn’t so much the pool, the kiddie pool or the adjacent Jacuzzi. It’s the deck, which features three levels for the sun-worshiping pleasure of residents.
“It’s a really good-sized swimming pool,” said assistant property manager Chrissy Kneeland, of the 37-by-75-foot pool. “But having that deck makes the pool. You can go into your own little world, at the first, second or third levels. It’s really open, and you have lots of places to bask in the sun. You’re not confined. It’s really big, and a fun environment.”
– Eugenie Terrace on the Park. The pool is on the rooftop of this 44-story building at 1730 N. Clark St. on Chicago’s Near North Side. And that means residents of the 11-year-old, 575-unit building not only enjoy a great pool, but a terrific view.
“The biggest reason we stand out is that the views are truly stupendous,” said marketing director Maureen Vaughn. “I’ve been up there probably 10,000 times, and it’s still breathtaking. You see the entire city, the park, the lagoon and the lake.”
While enjoying the pool, which features a two-tiered deck, potted plants and ornamental columns along its southern edge, residents can call down to Fresh Choice, a health food cafe on Wells Street behind Eugenie Terrace, and have their lunch delivered poolside for free.
For serious swimmers interested in swimming laps, there’s an early-morning swimming session held at 6 a.m. daily. On Fridays, also at 6 a.m., a continental breakfast of juice and low-fat muffins is served at the pool.
– Four Lakes. You’d imagine that any community with 1,616 apartments might have more than one outdoor pool. But four? That’s the number of pools offered at Four Lakes, a 30-year-old apartment community in Lisle. One pool is situated next to an eight-story apartment building within the community, and two others are located next to the lakes.
But Four Lakes general manager Charlene O’Connell seems proudest of the pool found right outside the community’s restaurant and pub. “I don’t know of any other pools where you can order food and beverages from a restaurant next to the pool,” she declared.
– Huron Plaza. Situated atop the community’s parking garage at the 10th-floor level, the 30-by-47-foot pool at Huron Plaza, 30 E. Huron St., affords a glorious panorama of the surrounding cityscape. The pool is on the upper level of a bilevel sundeck whose lower level features four gas grills, four dining tables and lounge chairs. New pool furniture, flowerpots and trees were added to the pool area this spring, said property manager Connie Gepner.
Like many others, this pool isn’t just for swimming and sunning. The fitness department of the Habitat Co., which manages Huron Plaza, sponsors water aerobics on Monday evenings for residents of Huron Plaza and other Habitat properties.
The annual resident summer party is also held at the pool each year at summer’s end. “It’s really lovely,” said Gepner of the pool. “You enjoy it because it takes you out of the city.”
– Ontario Place. A pool in a park-like setting at the 7th-floor level is among the claims to fame at this 16-year-old, 470-unit, 51-story building at 10 E. Ontario St. Next to the 21-by-50-foot pool is a lush garden with trees and flowers, a gazebo, two new gas grills and three picnic tables. The pool, which is atop the parking garage, overlooks the southeast corner of the sundeck, giving sunbathers an inspiring view of the Loop skyline and Michigan Avenue.
But when they turn away from the panorama and gaze at the garden, residents can imagine themselves in a distinctly un-urban setting.
“Whether you’re sitting back in a lounge chair relaxing or taking a dip in the pool, you just can’t believe you’re in the middle of the city,” said leasing manager Dawn Johnson.
– Prairie Lakes. This two-year-old, 319-unit Naperville community boasts one of the loveliest outdoor pools in the Chicago area, say our experts. “Aesthetically, it’s very pretty because the landscaping around it is so great,” said property manager Marie Hamilton.
“You go through a beautiful clubhouse to get into the pool area, then you look out at the pool and right on the other side is the lake that runs throughout Prairie Lakes. (The water) almost looks continuous. You’re (looking) from the pool to the body of water beyond it.”
Surrounding the pool is a deck featuring flower-filled terra cotta ornamental pots that add to the visual appeal of the setting.
– Village in the Park. The 40-by-50-foot outdoor pool at this 28-year old, 863-unit apartment community in Schaumburg is nestled in a country setting with willow trees and a picturesque view of the lake that graces the property. An exceptionally large deck adds a feeling of openness, and comfortable, oversized chaise lounges cradle residents in comfort.
“It’s breezy, open and inviting,” said resident manager Jennifer Giallanza.
She added that during the summer, the pool is also the setting for a weekly Saturday barbecue and an end-of-the-season community party.
