SUCCESSFUL IS THE BEST WAY to describe the results of the first year of operation of the Olympic Indoor Swimming Center in Arlington Heights.

Built through the combined efforts of the Arlington Heights Park District and High School District #214, the Swimming Center is an integral part of education as well as a recreational resource.

The most amazing fact about the whole project is that the Park District failed twice in its bid to obtain voter approval for construction of additional swimming facilities, and the School District also failed to win approval to build pools at each of its school locations prior to the cooperative effort.

Soon after the Park District was unsuccessful in its second attempt, the Board of Commissioners of the Park District approached the School Board to discuss the possibility of combining efforts to build an indoor swimming complex. After several meetings to discuss the project, the School Board accepted the Park District's proposal and formal plans were initiated.

A Citizen's Park Advisory Council was formed through the cooperation of the Arlington Heights Chamber of Commerce.

Their recommendations led to the formation of the Park District Referendum Committee which made the specific outline of items included in the referendum. The results came in July, 1968 when the Park District held its third referendum in as many years, and it passed by better than a 2-1 margin.

The referendum called for construction of three outdoor swimming complexes, two Community Centers, several improvements in existing parks, establishment of two new Parks, two outdoor shelters in addition to the indoor swim center.

Both the Park District and the School District shared the construction costs equally. The Park District added funds for a Youth Center, Wading Pool and administrative office space. The Districts signed a 20-year agreement which includes the following items: use, control, operation, maintenance and personnel.

Facility gets tremendous use from early morning
until late at night which demonstrates the
value and importance of such joint operations.

Illinois Parks and Recreation    12    July/August, 1971

Indoor view of pool shows vast size of facility.

A new 20-year agreement will automatically take effect unless one party notifies the other in writing. The new agreement would be a continuation of the present agreement which divides operating expenses between the two agencies, based on the School District's 55% share and the Park District paying 45%. All custodial personnel are employed and responsible to the Arlington Heights Park District.

The School District uses the facility from 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. November 1 to March 15 and 7:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m. the balance of the school year. The Park District controls and operates 12 months a year at all other times not indicated, with a few exceptions for varsity swim meets or other special school programs. Recreation Supervisor for Aquatics for the Park District acts as Swim Center Manager and works on a daily basis with the physical education staff of the School District.

The new indoor swimming complex includes a 25-yard six lane pool and a separate diving well with 2 one meter boards and 1 five meter board, underwater lighting in both pools, seating for 450 spectators, men's and women's saunas, plus an outdoor wading pool and sun deck. The basement area has the Teen Center, three Recreation Supervisors' offices and sufficient storage space for recreation and custodial supplies and winter storage for small maintenance equipment.

An elevator makes it possible for moving the equipment and pool chemicals, etc. to the lower level. The possibility also exists for an archery and rifle range to be built along one corridor of the basement adjacent to the walls of the pool tanks. L. S. Hubbard and Associates prepared a feasibility study during the time the School Board and the Park Commissioners were discussing the various possibilities.

A 1964 study prepared by the Park District reported the need for three indoor swim centers to meet the needs for Fall, Winter and Spring swimming. The report, based on population projections of the Village of Arlington Heights, indicated placement of the swimming facilities to be adjacent to High School sites that are within the Arlington Heights Park District. Park land has been acquired for future development in each of these areas. Since the indoor facility was built at Arlington High School, School District #214 has cooperated with other Park Districts for construction of swimming pools and has shown a definite interest to participate with all Park Districts having District #214 High School located within their boundaries. There are six Park Districts that have eight School District #214 High Schools located within their boundaries.

The Arlington Heights Park District and School District #214 are of the opinion that the agreement exercised in this venture is very sound and quite practical.

Ronald H. Dodd is Superintendent of Recreation for the Arlington Heights

Illinois Parks and Recreation    13    July/August, 1971