Long-Awaited Pool Construction Begins

The Frieling family didn't spend much time swimming this summer.

Most summers, Dawn Frieling and her three children spend an afternoon each week at Willow Stream Pool. This season, though, the pool's closure sent them seeking entertainment outside of the village.

"We actually went to the Wheeling Aquatic Center, which was very nice," Frieling said. But, she added, "We didn't go as often as we would have gone to our pool because the traffic is horrible."

The Buffalo Grove Park District had planned to reopen its outdoor pool for the 2010 season, after closing it for construction in the fall of 2009. However, the federally mandated safety improvements were delayed while the park district waited to receive state construction permits.

In early August, the state granted the permits that the park district originally requested in October 2009. As pool season draws to a close, construction is now underway at Willow Stream Pool.

Because Buffalo Grove families spent the summer days at neighboring communities' pools, "people missed being together" at Willow Stream, said resident Kati Weiler, who lives four houses away from the Buffalo Grove pool.

"It's a much less spontaneous trip when you have to drive to another facility," added Weiler, who instead took her three kids to the Wheeling Aquatic Center. "It just meant that we swam less."

Frieling agrees. She estimates her family would have visited Willow Stream 10 to 12 times during the season, but she can count on one hand the trips she made to Wheeling with her daughters—a sixth-grader and Stevenson High School sophomore —and fourth-grade son.

"I think maybe we broke even on our money," she said. "We went three times, maybe four."

The Buffalo Grove Park District contracted with neighboring districts' pools to ensure residents had access to other outdoor facilities this summer. The Arlington Heights Park District honored Willow Stream's pool passes, while Wheeling and Vernon Hills offered resident rates to Buffalo Grove residents.

The Frielings opted for Wheeling pool passes upon learning that many of their neighbors were planning to do the same. While they liked many of the aquatic center's amenties—Frieling's teenage daughter particularly enjoyed the sand volleyball court—there were also some disappointments.

"There's not a lot of places to swim; there are nice places to play," Frieling said. Due to crowds of people hanging out in in pool's lap lanes, "I didn't even get in the pool," she said. "It was the first [summer] I didn't swim."

Weiler, who in 2009 purchased pool memberships at both Willow Stream and Wheeling's pool, said she hasn't decided if she'll do the same next summer.

"For sure I will be a member at Buffalo Grove—as long as it's open," she said. "I really hope they'll be able to scoot it along."

The pool improvements now in progress are mandated by the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act, which requires changes in drains and filtration systems to reduce injuries and deaths.

Believing that state permits would arrive soon after, the park district moved forward with bathhouse renovations, which only needed permits from the village. Further progress was halted when the state permits took so long to arrive.

"Obviously, if we had known it was going to take this long, we would have postponed construction until next year," park district spokesman Mike Terson said.

The most visible pool improvements will include a ramp that allows wheelchair users to enter the 3-foot end of the pool, as well as a new deck. For the first time, the pool will also offer a water slide. The slide will curve around and emit riders into a small pool adjacent to the main pool, which will continue to feature six lap lanes.

Because the construction just began, the work likely won't be completed before winter, Terson said.

"They will finish as much as they can, but it will continue until the spring, would be my guess," Terson said.

The $1.6 million construction project is funded in part by a $400,000 Open Space Lands Acquisition and Development grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. The rest of the cost will be covered by the Buffalo Grove Park District.

The unexpected pool closure of Willow Stream Pool drove higher traffic to Buffalo Grove's Spray 'N Play this summer. The water park saw a greater number of patrons take advantage of its twilight rate, which offers $1 admission during the final two hours the park is open each day, Terson said.

Other park district construction projects this summer included improvements and equipment additions at Mirielle Park. In addition, new drainage pipes were installed at the Alcott Center in August to help reduce puddles and ice buildup on the sidewalks when it rains and snows.