Elmhurst Park District to open East End Pool, spray ground for 2021 season

ELMHURST - The Elmhurst Park District is planning to open East End Pool and the spray ground at The Hub at Berens Park this summer.

Staff is hopeful it will be able to open both facilities, but the safety of guests and staff remains the number one priority, the park district said in a news release.

“We’re cautiously optimistic that we’ll be able to open East End Pool and the spray ground this summer, but of course we will continue to monitor the positivity rates in our region and follow all Restore Illinois and Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines,” Executive Director Jim Rogers said in the release. “Our mission is to enrich lives while having fun, and I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to provide more opportunities this summer for families to recreate in a safe manner.”

While East End Pool and the spray ground are slated to open, Smalley Pool will remain closed for the season. The uncertainty of the pandemic combined with the significant tax subsidy required to operate both pools led to the difficult decision to only open one, the release stated.

“While we would have preferred to open both pools this summer, we didn’t feel it would be fiscally responsible to do so in the uncertain climate we’re in,” Rogers added “But staff is excited about the prospect of opening both the spray ground and East End this summer and we hope the community will be as well”

The plan at the current time is to open the spray ground on May 29 and East End Pool on June 12. Both facilities will require advance reservations.

East End Pool will open for morning swim from 5:30 to 9:30 a.m. and open swim from noon to 7 p.m. daily. The number of reservations allowed will depend on capacity limits set forth by Restore Illinois and IDPH guidelines.

East End Pool features a zero-depth wading pool with tot slide, 25-yard lap swim lanes, one drop slide, one 1-meter diving board, one 3-meter diving board, a separate 12-foot-deep diving well, two family changing areas and an ADA accessible aquatic lift.

The spray ground will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations will be required.

Due to strict capacity limits, pool passes will not be sold this summer, and residents who purchased a pool pass in 2020 will receive a household credit.

Hiring for lifeguards and other pool and Hub staff will begin in the coming month.

For information and to stay up-to-date on park district offerings, visit www.epd.org.