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player ready...Wearing a skull-and-crossbones headband and guarding treasure chests, Mary Norge-Drent played the part of a pirate well at Woods Pool.
However, it was not gold and jewels in the Woods booty that Norge-Drent, swim lessons coordinator at the pool, oversaw, but Swedish fish and boat kits. Contrary to the greed displayed by pirates on the silver screen, Norge-Drent was more than happy to share the overflowing treasures before her with any youths who came by her station at the Burr Ridge Park District aquatics center.
Woods Pool was the site of the park district’s Yo Ho Ho Pirate Night, where youths walked the plank (diving board), did cannonballs, played Squid Squish and participated in a host of other pirate-related activities.
Ninety-seven individuals showed up for event, nearly quadrupling the attendance of a normal weeknight at the pool.
“It’s some family fun,” said Jeff Robinson of La Grange Park, who brought his two kids to the event.
Robinson has been a member at Woods Pool for seven years. He said he loves going to the facility.
“It is like being back in the ’60s,” Robinson said. “It has that old-fashioned feel to it.”
The pool has been operating on a year-to-year basis due to lower attendance numbers and increased maintenance costs. The aging facility continues to operate at a deficit that taps park district funds.
Jim Pacanowski, director of parks and recreation, said the park board will get final numbers for this pool season in October.
“They will need to make a decision on 2017 no later than the January board meeting,” Pacanowski said. “They could make the decision at the November, December or January meeting.”
This past January, park board members approved opening Woods Pool for 2016 after an outpouring of support was shown by neighbors. Park board members, however, did warn 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 capital expenditures needed at the pool it is more like a $25,000 annual drain on the park district coffers, board members said.
However, there are positives being seen at the pool this season. Norge-Drent said participation in swim lessons is way up.
“This has been the best season for swim lessons,” said Norge-Drent, now in her 21st year of leading swim instruction for the park district.
Lavonne Campbell, superintendent of recreation, said it has been a good summer for Woods Pool.
“Membership is up, daily attendance is up, swim lessons are up. Everything is trending up,” Campbell said. “You see that when a neighborhood gets involved. It has also been a great summer weather-wise. Just about every day has been sunny and warm.”
Campbell said the pool just successfully completed its third audit, getting exceeds expectations in every category. She said the surprise audit included lifeguards being filmed from the parking lot of the pool “and they did very well” in every category, Campbell proudly stated.
The pool will have its last Family Bingo Night of the season on Monday.
Kevin Beese is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
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