Sycamore Park District planning to assess city pool

SYCAMORE – Renovations could be on the horizon for Sycamore Park District Community Pool, pending the results of an assessment at the end of the summer.

The Park District is seeking proposals to assess the condition of the 35-year-old swimming pool and bathhouses.

Dan Gibble, executive director of the district, said he does not think inspectors will find major maintenance problems with the aging pool, but he wants to make sure the wiring around the deck and pipes behind the pool walls are not causing damage or unsafe conditions.

“There are things that can’t be seen by just looking around,” Gibble said. “We want to get a sense of its condition and what items might need some more significant attention.”

With an estimated budget of
$35 million going into next fiscal year, Gibble said he wants to have a good idea of which district projects need attention, and the assessment will be a part of that process.

The district is seeking firms that have experience in assessing the existing structural, mechanical, functional, operational and infrastructural components of public swimming pools and bathhouses, according to a public notice. Gibble said he has not received bids from firms as of Thursday, but with a deadline of June 28, it still is early in the process.

“We want an unbiased, qualified and experienced opinion from those who are used to using the equipment necessary to assess the conditions of the facility,” Gibble said.

The assessment will require workers to dig up land around the deck and run cameras through the pipes behind the pool walls. The latter project will take place after the pool has closed for the summer, Gibble said.

The assessment will not interfere with swimmers; however, he said he does not plan on closing the pool for any reason during the summer.

The pool has undergone other repairs in recent years.

The last time the pool was renovated was in 2017. Construction wrapped up in April of that year to bring the pool and bathhouses into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Capacity was lowered from 433 to 300 people to make the improvements more affordable. The project ended up costing more than double what was expected.

The district ran additional tests that cost $10,000 before the June 9, 2017, opening to make sure the water was safe after the renovations. Wiring used to ground equipment near the pool needed to be replaced after the bonding of the deck was weakened.