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Pool use up this summer in Barrington, Lake Zurich
Barrington -Barrington Aqualusion Pool. With the warm summer weather we analyze pool use over the summer and how much it has been influenced with the warm summer. The Stoettner's from left Emily 7, Rob and William 8 enjoy the water. | Joe Cyganowski ~ For Sun Times Media
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Updated: September 17, 2012 12:22PM
The end of summer means the end of one of the warmest and busiest seasons of recent memory for area swimming pools and beaches.
With the warm, dry conditions and temperatures consistently higher than 90 degrees in June and July, area park districts saw great increases in the use of their aquatic facilities.
“Our pool numbers definitely increased a lot this summer,” said Kathy Walker, office manager at the Barrington Park District. “It has been a great summer for our pool.”
Walker said the park district only closed its pool at the Aqualusion Water Park for two days this summer — both days within the past two weeks — due to cool weather.
Barrington Park District Executive Director Terry Jennings said the pool can hold 1,200 swimmers and staffing the pool was “no challenge” to keep everyone safe.
Jennings said the pool was “constantly busy” but stayed under capacity all summer.
According to Walker, season pool pass sales in Barrington were up almost 40 percent from 2011, while pool pass holders increased their visits in June by 25 percent over last year. July was the busiest month with pool pass holders increasing their visits 2.5 times over the previous year’s number.
“With the 100 degree weather we had our attendance was greater throughout the day,” Jennings said. “We have seasonal pool passes, but our daily walk-ins increased a lot.”
Daily visits to the Aqualusion Water Park were up more than 50 percent in June 2012 versus June 2011, but were down 20 percent in July 2012 compared to last year.
“Non-pool pass holders were coming more in June,” Walker said.
Neighboring Lake Zurich has seen plenty of beachgoers at Paulus Park Beach and Sprayground, but had a drop in the sales of season passes by 51, down to 1,716.
“Our passes are down slightly, but our daily attendance has been above average,” Lake Zurich Park & Recreation Director Michael Perkins said.
Though daily pass sales are down compared to 2011 the beach still has three weekends left and is expected to far exceed last year’s daily sales of 8,304. As of Monday, Paulus Beach has sold 7,845 daily passes.
“Without a doubt the warmer weather has increased our participation, more so with the daily sales,” Perkins said.
