The Parks and Recreation Commission of Hinsdale on July 8 heard staff report that pool memberships and other seasonal revenues are up this year, and that the department will return with fuller financial figures and sponsorship details at its next meeting.

Staff member Mike said the department is “106% of our budget collected” for pool revenue as of the date of the report, and that several revenue lines (daily fees, 10-visit passes, and late-season facility rentals) were expected to increase further before the end of the season. The commission was told the membership increase appears to include a substantial rise in Hinsdale residents buying annual passes this year and that some visitors likely came from neighboring towns while other pools were limited or closed.

The report matters because membership and concession income fund seasonal operations and influence budget priorities going into the fall. Commission members pressed staff for more granular data — including how year-to-date totals map to prior full-year totals and how one-time promotions affected prior years — so the commission can assess whether this season’s gains are sustainable.

Key details in the staff presentation included:
- Year-to-date membership counts showed a roughly 532-member increase compared with the comparable period last year, with the largest rise coming from Hinsdale residents; staff noted that changes to the family-pass definition (family of four as the baseline this year) also affected totals. Staff said the family-pass policy change likely contributed to some of the increase in reported pass holders.
- Concession sales are handled by an outside vendor; the department collects a contractual payment and recognizes that revenue later in the season.
- Ten-visit passes and day fees were near or approaching budgeted levels, and staff expect those revenue lines to grow before fiscal-year close when late payments and season rentals are reconciled.
- The village’s pool concession vendor has been well received, with no significant complaints reported.

Commissioners asked about registration-system improvements discussed by staff, including adding a post-program review/survey capability and whether enrollment counts could be displayed online. Staff said the village’s cooperative registration system draws from multiple partner agencies, and real-time slot counts had been turned off previously because the shared enrollment display produced misleading information for patrons. Staff said it is feasible to add survey links to receipts and to roll out a village-wide feedback mechanism, and they will return with a timeline for that effort.

Staff also summarized KLM facility rental activity: KLM produced about 110 rental leads across May and June, conducted 25 tours and booked 13 reservations for 2025–26, with 15 events already on the 2026 calendar. Staff noted they will present a fuller rental-and-sponsorship revenue summary in September.

Commissioners asked for two specific follow-ups: a) a breakdown of how this year’s year-to-date membership counts compare with past full-year totals (and what role flash sales or system-policy changes played), and b) a sponsorship-sales and pricing benchmark (including comparisons with nearby chambers/farmers-market sponsorships). Staff agreed to provide the requested analyses at the September meeting.

The commission also heard that staff will continue to monitor Clarendon Hills’ pool project and other regional changes that may affect Hinsdale pool attendance next season; staff said they have not received a permit status update from Clarendon Hills but will follow up and report back.

Less-critical operational notes in the meeting included recognition of seasonal interns and the department’s “staff of the week” program. Staff said they continue to track pool expenses and will present a more detailed year-end financial report in the fall.