Parks & Recreation reports pool, pavilion and facility updates; Ninja obstacle delayed

Parks and recreation staff gave an end-of-summer construction and operations update, saying the new pool is essentially complete, the Cave and Center is operating year-round for summer camp, and a new pavilion's foundation has been laid. "Pool is essentially done. We just have a few door issues and a few smaller things, and then we have to pay out the final retentions that we hold from the contractors," a parks staff member said, calling the season "hugely successful." Staff said they expect to present participation and origin data for pool users in September. A planned Ninja Warrior obstacle was not open this season after contractor problems with Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) approvals and construction; staff said the contractor must redesign the installation and that the feature will be installed in the fall for use next year. "They had to go back and redesign the whole thing. So we weren't able to have that open this year, but they'll install it in the fall," the parks staff member said. Staff also said the Cave and Center facility will provide year-round space for summer-camp activities and allow climate-controlled programming. A pavilion arrived on site and foundation work is complete; staff said the pavilion should be in place for CityFest. On maintenance and follow-up, staff said final contractor punch-list items and retention payouts remain. The parks construction manager asked staff to provide a follow-up presentation to council summarizing pool attendance and origin data in September. No formal council action was requested; staff said these are routine construction updates and maintenance items included in existing contracts and budgets.