The anticipated May 23 opening of the renovated Lions Park Pool in Clarendon Hills has been pushed back to June 6 because of work delays due to recent weather.
The Clarendon Hills Park District stated that record-breaking rainfall this spring led to the delay in the opening of the pool, as construction crews work to safely complete final improvements to the facility.
“The 2026 season has marked the wettest March 1 through April 20 period on record in Chicago, with 10.63 inches of rain, more than double the historical average of 4.66 inches,” Park District officials said in a statement. “These unprecedented conditions have significantly impacted construction timelines at Lions Park Pool.
“While the delay may be disappointing to the community, additional time is necessary to ensure that construction crews can safely complete the installation of two new waterslides and fully restore the facility.”
The pool, at 100 Byrd Court, is managed and operated by the Park District. It was closed in 2025 while significant renovation work was completed. Neighboring Hinsdale offered Clarendon Hills residents its own resident rate for use of its pool in 2025.
Don Scheltens, executive director of the Park District, previously said pool renovations include adding new recreational amenities such as waterslides, a spray park and upgrades to the mechanical systems.
Clarendon Hills voters in 2024 overwhelmingly supported an $8 million bond issue by the Park District to pay for the pool improvements, along with some additional upgrades at parks.
Scheltens said without the improvements, the 35-year-old pool was soon to become inoperable and would have to close due to increased costs of annual maintenance and operational costs to the park district. And the cost for the pool’s ongoing repairs have delayed the Park District’s ability to do many other capital projects in the parks.
The Lions Park Pool was opened in 1992 and managed and operated by the Clarendon Hills Lions Club. In 2003, the Lions Club decided it no longer was able to manage those tasks, so the Park District took over the facility.
The Park District used resident feedback from a pool survey to plan what, if any other improvements would be made, beyond the important operational workings of the facility. The two main amenities to be added are a double waterslide and a new splash playground, Scheltens said.
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
