Bear Paddle Swim School Hopes to Open in Woodridge Shopping Center

A swim school may be opening in the Centerpointe of Woodridge Shopping Center.

The will vote Thursday on an ordinance to open the Bear Paddle Swim Club in the former Tuesday Morning’s location at 7200 Woodward Avenue. The 9,800 square foot space would include a swimming pool, club house, locker rooms and retail area. 

Bear Paddle is a children’s swim club that already has one location in Aurora. That location opened almost three years ago and serves 1,500 students a week. The intention of the swim school is to teach lifesaving skills to children as well as raise awareness of water safety within the community.

The company offers swim lessons year-round. Children come once a week and families can re-register for lessons every month. Class sizes are kept very small – beginners start at a 3:1 student-to-teacher ratio and any class above would have a 4:1 student-to-teacher ratio.

Children are separated by age and ability to classes. Teachers must be 18 years old or older and be CPR certified.

Besides swim lessons, Bear Paddle also plans to teach children about different bodies of water and what to do in an emergency.

The company hopes to work with schools and daycares to help with fundraisers, sponsorships and donations. 

Plan Commission members raised concern over affects on traffic and parking in the shopping center.

Bear Paddle staff are “very adamant about adding speed bumps and stop signs” to the parking lot outside the proposed Woodridge facility, according to the minutes of the May 7 Plan Commission meeting. Staff require parents to remain with their children at all times and discourage parents from dropping off children at the door. 

If the project is approved Thursday, Bear Paddle hopes to have the facility open by early spring 2013. 

The Woodridge Plan Commission passed the ordinance for the swim school May 7 with a unanimous vote.