Officials hope for May opening of Danville Aquatic Center, new rates
DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — City officials are gunning for a May 31 opening date for the new-and-improved Garfield Park Pool — now named the Danville Aquatic Center at Garfield Park — with, perhaps, some new admission fees.
Danville’s Public Services Committee met on Tuesday, where they discussed the refurbishment progress and proposed new rates for the center.
Danville’s Fischer Theatre scraps weekly box office hours, leans into digital ticketing
The pre-summertime opening largely depends on an Illinois Department of Public Health inspection taking place next week, Public Services Director Dave Ruwe said. The pool has been closed since 2021 for refurbishments. City Engineer Sam Cole added that the project’s number one obstacle has been delayed shipments of parts.
“So, we are not able to make any promises on anything,” Cole said at the meeting. “We’re optimistic that we’re going to be there. We’re also recognizing that we have a brand new staff coming up to speed, and we’re cognizant of the fact that can we open the doors and are we ready to open the doors are two different things. So we want to make sure this goes off without a hitch and do it well for the first time that everybody’s there.”
Ruwe said roughly 16 staff members will be established throughout the park, including office staff, money-handlers, management positions, and lifeguards. He also said that renovations have been going smoothly with all hands on deck.
“They took me out last week,” he said, “and the amount of people that are on this job site right now — I mean, I grew up around construction and have been around construction my whole career — that is probably the most amount of people per space in the area of a construction zone I have ever seen.”
Danville police K-9 getting two new brothers on the force
As for the proposed rates, Ruwe said the Danville Aquatic Center is taking notes from Champaign-Urbana’s Aquatic Centers in a couple aspects. One is through similar entry fees. Compared to last season’s daily rates of $4 for minors, $5 for adults, and free admission for children 2 and under, the new rates would stand at $8 per person and free admission for those 3 years old and below.
Ruwe said the new Punch Pass rate is another change modelled from Urbana, which would sit at $70 for 10 visits. There is one idea from Urbana, however, that Ruwe said Danville doesn’t plan to follow. In an effort to encourage people from both near and far to come visit, the Danville Aquatic Center won’t have differing fees between residents and nonresidents.
Meet ‘The Three Amigos’ spreading smiles at OSF Sacred Heart in Danville
Once it opens, the center will be taking a breather from pool parties in 2024 as everyone settles in with the changes. However, non-profit organizations bringing in groups can do so for a discount of $4 per patron. There will also be no swimming after dark as there are no pool lights at this time. Light installation is pricey, Cole said, so while obtaining pool lights in the future is not out of the question, it might not be in the cards until the budget allows it.
The Public Services Committee unanimously moved the proposal onto the City Council at the end of Tuesday’s meeting. In the meantime, Ruwe is looking forward to showcasing Garfield Park Pool’s transformation into the Danville Aquatic Center at Garfield Park.
“I am confident in saying: be excited. Because after seeing it, this far exceeded my expectations.”
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
