Early Closure of Coral Cove Water Park, July 31, 2022
Water Parks, such as Coral Cove Water Park, have a general lifespan of operating systems. Generally outdoor water parks have a lifespan of 20 years. The water park at Simkus Recreation Center opened with the center in 1990. It had a “facelift” with new amenities in 2002 and was branded Coral Cove Water Park. The water park is currently 32 years old.
Extensive renovations and improvements need to be made in order to efficiently operate Coral Cove Water Park in 2023 and beyond. The construction bid process expanded over four months. The hired engineers and project managers, after assessing all mechanical systems of the water park, the length of restoration work, availability of materials and delays due to weather, have estimated the project construction timeline to start August 2022 and end just before May 2023.
Mechanical systems, such as the filtration and air handling systems, are over 30 years old and need to be replaced. The filtration systems include circulation pumps, strainers and system controllers, in addition to supply and exhaust vents, water heaters and water connections. Some of these improvements will require cement work.
The zero-depth pool gutter system needs structural repairs. New liners will be installed in the leisure/lap pool, slide plunge pool, dive pool and kiddie splash pad. Typically, a liner lasts ten years. Coral Cove Water Park main leisure/lap pool liner is 17 years old, well past its useful life.
The project engineers suggested to the Park District Board and staff to work through the 2022 summer season because of the duration of these renovations and improvements. The Park District Board voted unanimously to delay the project so that Coral Cove could open to patrons in 2022, but they had to agree on closing the water park early in order to begin the project and not be delayed for the 2023 season.
It was suggested on social media that we are just doing “behind-the-scenes” maintenance, and “why couldn’t we do this when the kids are back at school?” The decision of the Board and staff to close early was not an easy decision to make, but it was an important decision to make in order to keep Coral Cove Water Park open and operating efficiently for the next decade. What needs to be understood is if we can’t improve these mechanical systems at the water park and there is a major break down, the water park can close permanently. To build a new one would require a resident vote, and if favored, followed by two to three years for planning and construction. We do not want to see this scenario.
The Carol Stream Park District, as a good steward of the community, works hard to take care of what we have, so that we can continue to bring you nice facilities and programs to enjoy year-round. We look forward to improved operations at Coral Cove Water Park and a great 2023 season!
The Fall 2022 guide offers you an exciting season as we move into a new school year and look forward to fall/winter holidays and sports! We have something for everyone!
Before and After School Year Care at District 93 elementary schools begins Aug 15 through our ActivKids program. Register by Aug 11 to begin on the first day of school. Our popular fast-filling Preschool program begins Sep 6, and new for Fall we are offering preschool extended care options.
Browse the Fall guide for popular programs such as Art, Dance, Gymnastics, Performing Arts and Swimming. Adult and Youth Sports are plentiful in the Fall for leagues, tournaments and special interest sports. Fitness members can participate in member challenges for prizes each month.
We have many adult and family trips and events planned to include Cubs games, visits to farmers markets, holiday plays and more! The popular Polar Express is back this year with three timeslot options! Families can also enjoy Teenie Weenie events, Trick-or-Treat Trail and Santa Gretna Station Visits.
Coyote Crossing Mini Golf is open until Oct 16. Theme days include Patriot Day (for first responders and military) on 9/11 and Not So Scary golf for the youngsters on Oct 10. Adults can enjoy Boos & Brews Haunted Golf on Oct 22.
The Fall guide is in a digital format, so we can offer so much more. The PDF format gives customers the ability to download the program pages they want to refer to or print from their home! Program codes are clickable for quick registration, and buttons bring you to more information about our programs and services. We are pleased to present this guide to you!
Each year around this time we close Fountain View Recreation Center to do a deep cleaning and perform general maintenance. Here are just some of the many things we do:
This type of cleaning and maintenance requires ladders, scaffolding, power washing machines and tools. Some of this maintenance may produce smells (refinishing floors, acid washing pools), which is why workers will be wearing face coverings within the building. And this type of cleaning and maintenance takes time. Fountain View Recreation Center is a beautiful building, and to keep it operating efficiently and to keep it aesthetically pleasing, this annual cleaning and maintenance is necessary and demonstrates good stewardship in our community.
Thank you to all our visitors and members that use the Fountain View Recreation and Fitness Center for your cooperation. We are eager to welcome you back to a fresh facility!
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Alternate aquatic options for Fountain View Fitness & Lap Swim members:
Show your membership card at Coral Cove Water Park, July 25-31, for free admission. One lap lane is available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Show your membership card at Bartlett Park District Indoor Pool for discounted admission during lap swim hours, July 25-August 7. Access to their fitness center, fitness classes and aqua fitness is not included.
In July’s Enews:
In June’s Enews:
It was a beautiful day at Veterans Memorial Plaza in Carol Stream as the community came out to honor our Veterans, current and past, our Gold Star Families and our active military. In attendance were the Village of Carol Stream Mayor and Trustees, service men and women from our fire and police departments, Carol Stream Park District Board Members, staff and so many Carol Stream families.
Armstrong Park is home to a colony of Purple Martins that migrate through North America to South America each year. The colony is on Balog Island, located on the west side of the park. The establishment and care of Balog Island was under the tutelage of resident volunteers Ralph and Jeanne Balog and several other volunteers for many years, since the early 1970’s.
The Purple Martin birdhouses are designed apartment-style specifically for them and provide safety and protection from the elements, especially during the early summer nesting season.
The birdhouses require special maintenance each year in order to welcome back the Purple Martins. Our Balog Island decades-long enthusiast volunteers are no longer able to care for the birdhouses on the island. So Executive Director Jim Reuter, who’s a “hands-on” type of guy, rowed the traditional boat over to the island and cleaned out the colony houses. This required lowering the houses to a workable level. Old nests were removed, in addition to invasive birds, such as sparrows, who will kill the young Purple Martin fledglings and their mothers.
Purple Martin scouts usually arrive during the month of April, and by May the colony birds are paired off and setting up housekeeping. The months of June and July see much activity as eggs are laid, babies hatch and fledging begins. By mid-August, the birds begin to leave the area and migrate to their winter home in South America.
Jim saw several Purple Martin scouts the third week of April. “This Purple Martin colony has been coming to Balog Island for years, and it is our responsibility to see it continue to thrive,” stated Jim.
Come out to Armstrong Park and visit Balog Island. The Purple Martins are graceful in flight and musical pre-dawn.
On May 6, 2022, Carol Stream Park District staff, friends and family of Kathy Earnest gathered to honor Kathy by dedicating the new playground at the Simkus Recreation Center to her. The event was planned on the playground but the rain brought us indoors. Kathy has been a teacher for the park district preschool program since 1990.
See the event here:
Facebook Live video link: https://fb.watch/cRhcQDmhkq/
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/knRBDFBTu64
Link to Photos uploaded to Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/csparkdistrict/albums/72177720298703138
We are inviting all Carol Stream residents and especially neighbors of Walter Park, located at 970 High Ridge Pass, to a Community Input Meeting. Walter Park is due for renovation, and we want to know what you want to see! Architects and staff will guide you through some exercises to list the amenities you would like at the park, and then you will be asked to prioritize or rate them. We want the kids involved too!
So join us on Wednesday, May 11, at 6:00 pm at Walter Park. We want to hear from you!
This meeting is important to the renovation planning of Walter Park. If you cannot make this meeting, feel free to send us your ideas and thoughts to info@csparks.org.
In case of rain, this Community Input Meeting will be moved to the Simkus Recreation Center, 849 W. Lies Rd.
The summer 2022 guide offers you an exciting summer with hundreds of activities to choose from. See summer camps (Awesome Adventure Day Camp, preschool summer camps, Glenbard North High School sports camps, all other sports camps, educational camps, & more), school year care, preschool program, sports, fitness, dance, gymnastics, senior programs and more! Get your Coral Cove Water Park pass (opens 5/28) and check out the theme days we have planned at Coyote Crossing Mini Golf (opens 5/7). We have something for everyone! The Carol Stream Park District are where all are welcome.
The summer 2022 guide of the Carol Stream Park District is our largest guide yet! Because it’s in a digital format, we can offer so much more. The new PDF format gives customers the ability to download the program pages they want to refer to or print from their home! Program codes are clickable for quick registration, and buttons bring you to more information about our programs and services. We are pleased to present this guide to you!
