Residents don't want pool hours changed

About a dozen people on Thursday night asked the Elk Grove park board not to change its lap pool hours at the Pavilion Aquatic Center.

The board could vote on the issue as early as next week.

The park district has been considering closing the pool for maintenance between noon and 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in the coming fall months.

Pool users spoke about how the lap pool helps their illnesses, including diabetes and multiple sclerosis. Others were unable to go to the pool at any other time.

Elk Grove Village resident Madeline Currier said the pool helps her daughter with diabetes.

"Confirmed by medical professionals, the benefits derived by her swimming have given her the physical benefits, enduring the challenges of two kidney transplants and their related complications," Currier said. "My daughter's life and her quality of life are credited to the opportunities of the aquatics of the park district."

Officials said few people use the pool during this time, so the district was looking at closing it to save money.

It's not that the district would save a lot, but it's common practice to close facilities when they're not being used frequently, said Tammy Miller, the park district's director of leisure activities.

Last year in September, about 36 people used the lap pool during the time the district wants to close it.

In October, that number rose to 62 people, while in November it was 47 people.

Commissioner Ralph Souder said he was reluctant to change the pool hours after hearing the concerns.

President Bill O'Malley said the board would call another meeting next week to discuss it further. He said for at least next week the pool hours would remain the same.