Burr Ridge’s Woods Pool will open in 2016 for what very well might be its final season.
An aging facility that continues to run at a deficit is draining Burr Ridge Park District financial resources, board members said.
After much discussion and community input Monday, board members approved reopening the pool this year. They warned, however, that without a substantial increase in memberships or finding another funding mechanism for the pool, the 50-year-old facility may be ripped out and turned to park land.
The pool has been averaging an annual operating deficit of $10,000, but when adding the annual capital expenditures at the pool it is more like a $25,000 drain on the park district coffers, board members said.
“When the deficit was lower, around $5,000, it was manageable,” board member Patti Malloy said. “But now it is costing us $25,000 a year to operate the pool. Some people are going to be upset if we close the pool. I say we give it one more year.
“But without an outside source of revenue, I don’t know if we can do it more than one more year.”
Larry Ridgway, a nearby resident, said the facility is the only public swimming pool in Burr Ridge. He said that the facility is a vital part of the park district.
“Closing the pool is inconsistent with the Burr Ridge Park District’s mission,” Ridgway said. “The pool facilitates the health and well-being of our children.”
He said the changing demographics in the area around Woods Pool, 711 Tomlin Drive, should boost memberships. Ridgway said there has been a 25 percent housing turnover in the area during the last five years, with young families replacing empty nesters.
Ridgway said there is support for the pool, noting 77 people signed a petition for keeping the pool open and that there are 35 written membership commitments for this year versus the membership average of the last six years of 58.
He added there has already been six ad-banner commitments and 12 verbal donation commitments.
“The community you have been elected to service is speaking with a clear and unified voice in support of Woods Pool,” Ridgway told board members.
Ridgway had asked for a three-year commitment to keep the pool open, but board members said they could not do that in good conscience, not knowing what the fiscal future holds for the park district.
Board member Kathy Bergholz suggested a friends of the pool group be formed either as a separate entity or a subgroup of the Burr Ridge Community Park Foundation, an organization that provides monetary donations, time and energy to park district endeavors.
The foundation has provided the park district with $14,000 to cover the cost of a new roof for the pool’s locker room facilities. Board members said they will check with foundation leaders to see if they want to lower their donation as the Park Board is not committing to operating the pool beyond 2016.
Bergholz felt a friends of the pool group could help provide needed financial support for the facility.
“Because we operate under such as a tight budget, we do have money for the pool,” Bergholz said. “The pool is valuable, but we will watch it closely. When the liner goes and we are told it will be $100,000 to replace it, that will be when we turn it into green space.”
A number of people who have grown up at Woods Pool made pleas to board members to keep their summer playground open.
“Me and my sister have been going there since we were born,” P.J. Doppke said. “At night, I get tears in my eyes [thinking about the pool closing]. Please don’t close the pool.”
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
