After more than two years of assessments, rising cost estimates, residents' concerns, and shifting design proposals, the Park Forest Board of Trustees on Monday approved a major step forward in the long-debated future of the Park Forest Aqua Center.
Trustees voted to approve a Letter of Proposal from Williams Architects to begin architectural and engineering work on a new $10 million redevelopment plan that includes building a new Combined Pool facility and completing near-term renovations to the existing East Pool. The decision authorizes Village Manager Jon Kindseth to execute the contract and moves the decades-old Aqua Center toward a potential summer 2027 reopening.
“This proposal keeps us within the funding the community has shown it can sustain, preserves the features residents value, and modernizes a 70-year-old system that has reached the end of its useful life,” staff said in its recommendation.
A Multi-Year Process Driven by Aging Infrastructure and Community Feedback
The approval marks the Village’s most definitive action since 2024, when early inspections revealed the Park Forest Aqua Center required far more work than anticipated.
Facility assessments conducted in 2024 and 2025 by Williams Architects and aquatic consultant Counsilman-Hunsaker found extensive leaks, corrosion, and mechanical failures throughout the 70-year-old complex. Initial estimates of $300,000 to $500,000 in repairs ballooned to more than $7 million, exceeding the $3.5 million the Village originally set aside.
By August 2025, staff informed the Board that the Aqua Center required more than $3 million beyond its budget to meet the Illinois Department of Public Health's swimming facility code requirements.
The Village presented trustees with five options — from a $20 million full rebuild to permanently closing the facility. At the time, Recreation, Parks, and Community Health Director Kevin Adams recommended a $6.5 million plan centered on a lap pool and splash pad, citing reduced staffing costs and long-term sustainability. But multiple trustees pushed back, expressing concerns that the plan didn’t meet the needs of all ages.
“Can we go back to the drawing board to make sure we can accommodate the children, as well as the seniors, as well as the adults in between?” Trustee Maya Hardy asked during the August meeting.
Trustees John Moore and Erin Slone raised questions about the facility's long-term efficiency and its ongoing financial losses, which required more than $250,000 in annual subsidies as revenue dropped from $57,000 in 2021 to $35,000 in 2024.
Community Survey Shows Desire for Family-Friendly, Affordable Options
Following public feedback on early proposals, the Village launched a widespread community survey in fall 2025 to better understand resident priorities and willingness to pay for improvements.
The survey drew 635 verified responses — one of the largest participation totals in a Village engagement effort.
Key findings included:
- 76% expressed interest in future membership
- Strong support for lap swimming (65%), shade structures (62%), concessions (55%), and a water slide (53%)
- Nearly half (45%) would pay up to $50 per person for membership
- Only 19% supported a tax increase, with another 34% saying “maybe”
- A mid-range investment of $6.5–$8.5 million earned the most resident support
Survey responses showed residents value the Aqua Center for affordability, transparency, and sustainability.
The New Redevelopment Plan
The approved plan aligns with community feedback and the Board’s focus on fiscal responsibility. It includes: 1. New Combined Pool Facility — $8.5 million.
A modern, multi-use, ADA-compliant pool will replace the aging complex while keeping the facility’s iconic water slide. The term ADA-compliant refers to a pool that is accessible to people with disabilities, as mandated by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The design also features energy efficiency—using less energy to operate, reduced staffing needs, and sustainability, meaning it is built to last and maintainable over time.
2. East Pool Remodel — $1.5 million
A scaled renovation to keep one pool operational during the first phase of construction, maintaining programming until the new facility opens.
Both projects fall under a capped $10 million construction budget, which includes schematic design (the initial drawings and plans), documentation (detailed construction plans), and construction administration (management and oversight during the building process) by Williams Architects. Work will begin immediately and is scheduled to continue through summer 2027.
How the Village Will Pay for It
The Village will fund redevelopment with $2.5 million in reserves, $500,000 in state grants, $7 million in bonds, and a 1.25% levy increase, equivalent to approximately $50 per year for a $10,000 tax bill.
- $500,000 in state DCEO grants
- $7 million in bonds, supported in part by reallocating existing levy capacity
- An additional 1.25% levy increase, roughly $50 per year for a homeowner with a $10,000 total tax bill
Staff noted that reducing the size of the new facility will significantly lower ongoing operational costs, from fewer lifeguards to improved mechanical efficiency. The Village also plans to review nonresident pricing to reduce the subsidy burden on local taxpayers.
Next Steps
Schematic design (creating initial layout and plans) is expected to begin immediately and run through January 2026, followed by detailed design (finalizing all technical aspects and specifications) and permitting (getting required regulatory approvals) through late 2026. Construction is scheduled from November 2026 to August 2027.
The Village expects the remodeled East Pool to reopen before the new Combined Pool is complete, providing some continuity for residents during the redevelopment period.
With the Board’s approval, Park Forest officially enters its first major reinvestment in the Aqua Center in decades — a move intended to create a sustainable, family-friendly aquatic facility that reflects both community priorities and fiscal realities.