Trustees opened a first reading Monday on a proposal to hire Williams Architects to design and oversee replacement of the kiddie pool at the Hinsdale Village Community Pool.

The proposal presented by Trustee Posner calls for a professional services agreement with Williams Architects for $124,500 to design and manage bidding and construction of a replacement kiddie pool. “As you may remember, in June, we approved dollars 39,000 in emergency repairs at the kiddie pool to repair some leaks. Those leaks have continued … we now have to refill the pool every night,” Trustee Posner said. He cited a staff estimate in the agenda packet that the pool is losing about 40,000 gallons a day and said the leaks are under the pool, meaning “we can't really repair those leaks without ripping out the entire pool.”

Why it matters: trustees were told the existing kiddie pool has not been renovated since 1992, is popular with young children, and does not meet current health and safety codes. Staff and Williams Architects said a full replacement will be a lengthy project — design, permitting and construction are expected to take about 18 months — and will result in the kiddie pool being closed for the entire 2026 season.

Staff estimates and funding: Williams Architects provided a preliminary construction cost estimate of about $1,100,000. The village's current capital improvement program (CIP) contains $585,000 for the pool; staff said they expect to pursue two DCEO grants from the State of Illinois that together could total $350,000, leaving an estimated funding gap of roughly $290,000. Trustee Posner noted that 34% of 2024 pool visitors were ages 2 to 8, citing packet data, and said closure next season could cause a short-term revenue loss.

Scope and design choices: staff reported that alternatives considered included a splash pad or a larger activity pool, but given the existing footprint they are recommending a modernized replacement of the existing kiddie pool with relocated piping moved into adjacent landscape areas to improve access for future repair. “They're recommending that we completely replace the kiddie pool and then move the piping for the pool … to the landscape area by the pool so that it'll be more easily accessible,” Trustee Posner said.

Role of the architect: Frank Parisi of Williams Architects told trustees the firm specializes in aquatics and can incorporate play features in the new pool design within the village's budget. “That'll be part of the design that we talked about with the team to actually incorporate some play features inside of the pool,” Parisi said. A village staff member added that when the kiddie pool is closed the village will “do everything in our possibility to work with Clarendon Hills or Western Spring or Oak Brook to get them another location.”

Procedure and next steps: this item was presented as a first read. Trustees discussed placing the item on the consent agenda for later action; trustees also indicated the CIP being prepared will include the additional funding needed. No final contract award or formal vote on the Williams Architects agreement occurred during the first reading.

Taper: Staff will return with formal terms for a professional services agreement and the CIP adjustment needed to cover the estimated project cost; construction timing and final funding sources will be finalized before a contract is awarded.