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player ready...While gardeners were surely happy the North Shore received rain after drought conditions June 11, local pool enthusiasts had to get their outdoor splashes in on Saturday.
Fortunately, Saturday offered banner sunscreen weather for opening day at the Meadowhill Aquatic Center, 1501 Maple Ave., while Sunday ushered in rain and temperatures hovering around just 56 degrees, causing Northbrook Park District pools to close for the day.
But plenty of area residents were able to bask in the sun Saturday, cooling off in Meadowhill’s wading pool, large pool, diving pool and slides.
“Of the many assets that the Park District offers to our residents, our two aquatic centers bring fun and fitness for the whole family and our guards and pool staff are trained with safety as the first priority,” said Molly Hamer, executive director of the Northbrook Park District.
“The many benefits of being outside, swimming and playing in the water, and connecting with friends and family are available at both Meadowhill Aquatic Center and the Sports Center Pool this summer,” Hamer said.
Saturday was an exciting day for Ella Schwall, 8, a rising third grader from Glencoe.
“She finally is 48 inches and she is ready for the slides,” said Ella’s mother, Jennifer Schwall.
“We love the Northbrook pools,” Jennifer Schwall said, who also brought four-year-old daughter Emmy. “They do such a nice job with it and it’s always a fun day for the kids.”
Savannah Roberts, 6, a rising first grader from Northbrook, noted the pool water temperature was, “medium.”
“It feels nice,” Roberts said.
Savannah’s father, Trevor Roberts, cooled off in the big pool with his daughter Saturday.
“Northbrook is a wonderful place to live and raise a family,” said Roberts, a 2003 graduate of Glenbrook North High School. “It’s the best; I never left.”
All decked out on the kiddie pool deck with water wings, safety vest, long sleeves and sun hat was Kaia Giridharan, 2, of Northbrook. Kaia was seen playing in the water with her sibling, Wolfgang, 4.
“We’ve been counting down since school ended (for the pool to open),” said their mother, Cecilia Suh.
School ended two days before Meadowhill’s pool opening on Saturday, Suh said.
“It’s perfect,” Suh said, adding the hope for the summer for the Giridharan children would be, “to make friends, have good memories and get some vitamin D.”
Northbrook siblings Emery Sobczak, 3, and Graham Sobczak, 5, were observed playing as a team in the wading pool in the company of their parents, Christine and Neil Sobczak.
“We’re so excited for summer,” said Christine Sobczak of Northbrook. “The Meadowhill pool is just such a great place for our little ones. They love coming here, and going down the slide. They have so many opportunities for our little kids to do things throughout the summer, so it’s a great place to live.”
See the Northbrook Park District pool schedule at https://www.nbparks.org/programs/pools/.
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Karie Angel Luc is a freelance reporter at Pioneer Press.