Water slide is crowning jewel at Addison Park District

by Jean Morgan Bacon
Addison Park District

Today, the water slide dominates the landscape at Addison's Community Park. It is the crowning jewel in Addison Park District's Family Aquatic Center that this year was honored by the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) with its Excellence in Aquatics Award. The award is presented for outstanding aquatic management, planning and programming.

Practically the entire Oak Street facility can be seen from the top of the water slide. In the east, woodland edges emerald playing fields that carry the eye back to the roof of the administration building and then to the maze of slides, twisting and turning below.

The water slide has three individual slides. One is 262-feet long; one is 244-feet long; and one, a tube slide, is 333-feet long. Skirting the water slide is the 50 meter L-shaped heated pool with a diving well and two diving boards.

The pool hosts everything from Parent-Tot Swim Time to lifeguard training, water safety and aqua-aerobics. In early June, diving lessons begin and, this year, the swim and dive team will practice there.

Beyond the pool is the children's water area with its activity island. One can see the tire swing, waterfall, cargo climb, and the slides on the activity island. But, the tunnels, water guns and bubbling geysers are out of view. Just past the children's activity island, edged by grassy spaces, is the adult area, where the new whirlpool and wooden deck have been added. The entire complex covers 1-1/2 acres; has a load limit of 970 people; and was completed with a capital expenditure of just under $1,800,000.

It only takes a minute to climb to the top of the water slide, but it has taken years to get there.

In 1985, when Addison's aquatics facility consisted on only a swimming pool with standard decking and a tot pool, attendance and revenues at the pool were declining. The park district staff

began conducting gate interviews of pool users to discover the cause. They learned that many people were regularly leaving Addison to swim at newer water parks that had become more common in neighboring communities. The park district board and staff, in an effort to bring people back and provide the best facility possible, set out to gather information using surveys, public meetings and meetings with user groups.

Among those approached for assistance and input were the park district's citizens council, a group comprised of geographically selected volunteers and representatives from senior citizens and teen interest groups. These groups were asked how Addison residents could be encouraged to use its own aquatics facility more frequently; how revenues could be increased; and how the facility could be bettered and still staying within limitations set by existing tax rates.

In 1986, the citizens council joined the board and staff in tours of neighboring water parks and added what they learned to the ideas that had been gathered earlier. As plans were formulated, the board met on several occasions with the council and other resident groups to share information, gather additional feedback and suggestions from residents, and monitor the community's feelings. After this extensive sharing and input gathering was completed, an architect was employed; drawings were started; and a budget was drawn up for a family aquatic center.

Preliminary drawings were shared with the park district's council, community residents and user groups. The data gathered from these meetings was incorporated directly into the final plans which were set to begin in 1988.

On March 26, 1988, ground was broken and by August of 1988, the new water slides and splashdown pool were completed.

The park district staff was anxious to open the new water slide feature so residents could enjoy it for the rest of the summer.

The 34-foot high water slide caps many days of fun and relaxation/or Addison residents. In 1985, user visits numbered 17,850. In 1989, the number grew to 53,000.

But, there was one more obstacle to overcome. Due to the severe water shortage of 1988, town fathers denied the park district permission to fill the water slide and splashdown pools. In Addison, water had become a four-letter-word: None!

Things looked pretty bleak until Chicago radio station WYTZ-FM heard of the problem and offered to donate the required water.

The park district suggested a grand opening and WYTZ agreed to be involved through on-air promotions, giveaways, personal appearances, and a live, remote broadcast from the facility. More than 1,500 attended the grand opening. The event drew local media coverage, both Chicago newspapers, television stations WGN and Fox 32, and the CBS, NBC, and ABC Chicago affiliate stations. The story was also carried nationally by CBS and the UPI wire service. The prospect of not being able to open the new water slide because of a water shortage was creatively turned into a very positive special event with superb media attention.

The hallmark of this project from the outset has been the continuing and significant role of resident input and review. The value placed on that input and review by the board and staff of the park district is apparent in the beauty of the facility and in the increase of user visits. In 1985, user visits numbered 17,850. In 1989, the number grew to 53,000.