Swimming Pool

The Lincoln Park District regrets to announce that its swimming pool will not be opening for the 2013 season. The Park Board of Commissioners finalized this decision at their January 11th, 2012 meeting in light of the expense of meeting the federal and state requirements of the Virginia Graeme Baker Act as well as the declining condition of the 45 year old facility.

The VGBA is a federal law signed into place after a 7-year-old girl drowned in 2002 after being trapped under water by the powerful suction from a hot tub drain. This legislation requires public pools and spas to be fitted with certain equipment that is intended to prevent death or injury caused by entrapment, evisceration or entanglement. The Lincoln Park District complied soon after notification was received in 2008. In early 2010, information was received that new regulations had been adopted in Illinois and more modifications would be needed to become compliant by the October 1, 2011 deadline. Lincoln was one of approximately 500 municipal, park district, school and hotel pools that did not meet that date.

Following the addition of new regulations in 2010 the park district began exploring options that would make the mandated changes economically feasible while at the same time looking at options for replacing the existing facility. After many months of discussion it became apparent that the only fiscally responsible decision was to move forward with plans for a new pool.

We understand that the closing of the pool affects recreational opportunities for many youth and adults in our community. Every effort will be made to provide alternative low-cost programming for the upcoming summer. By working with other agencies, businesses and individuals in Lincoln, we feel confident this can be achieved.