CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Most public pools are staying closed this summer, but a couple are reopening for lessons and practice. Western Springs Service Club is among the few opening for lessons, laps and swim team practice starting next Monday.
Manager Franny Noughton said they’ll have to compete against themselves since none of the seven other teams in their conference is opening its pool.The members-only club is allowed to reopen under Phase Three guidelines released by the state last week.Big Blue Swim School is holding private lessons and taking other steps that founder Chris DeJong said exceed guidelines at its five locations in the Chicago area.Those include spreading out changing rooms, conducting wellness checks, and requiring instructors to wear plastic face shields in the water.While the school asks children over age 2 to wear face coverings in the waiting room, DeJong said no child will need one in the pool. He’s grateful the state is allowing lessons now, especially since many kids will be swimming without lifeguards in backyard pools and at unmanned beaches this summer.Noughton and DeJong both said they’ve received a lot of calls from parents eager to get their children enrolled and out of the house.Some pools are still waiting to see if they can open in Phase Four, like park district pools in Lake Bluff and Glenview while others are staying closed for the season, such as Skokie park district pools and Centennial Beach in Naperville.