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Hinsdale plan panel approves replacement of children's activity pool with zero-depth play area
Summary
The Plan Commission unanimously approved a redesign of the children's activity pool at Hinsdale Community Pool to replace a failed underground piping system, adding a beach-entry zero-depth zone, play features and ADA improvements; commissioners directed staff to study low-profile landscaping for the south edge to balance neighbor privacy and safety.
The Hinsdale Plan Commission on March 11 unanimously approved a plan to replace the children's activity pool at 500 West Hinsdale Avenue after a 2025 piping failure, adopting design changes intended to increase play value and lifesaving sightlines.
Frank Parisi, managing principal and president of Williams Architects, told the commission the project was prompted by "a failure right before the 2025 season for some piping that was actually underneath the pool that ruptured," and that the design team sought to reuse the existing filtration system after consulting with the Illinois Department of Public Health. The approved layout creates a zero-depth, beach-entry area progressing to approximately 2 feet in depth on part of the pool to support learn-to-swim programming for children up to about age 8, includes spray features and a small slide, and calls for ADA-accessible approaches and fence modifications.
Why it matters: Commissioners said the replacement balances safety, programming and cost. The design keeps lifeguard sightlines aligned with the manager's office and limits new drainage and piping exposure; engineers confirmed the project can reuse the current filtration system as part of a maintenance-and-replacement approach rather than a full new filtration build-out.
Resident David Berquist, who lives near the pool, urged more buffering on the south side, noting removal of previous arborvitae had increased sight and noise impacts. He warned that brightly colored shade sails could be visible from neighboring streets and said, "If it looks like a circus tent, it's going to look like a circus tent," urging neutral colors and some screening.
Commissioners asked staff to investigate planting native grasses or low-profile shrubs along the south edge that would soften views without recreating the dense screening (arborvitae) that had previously concealed late-night trespass. The commission approved the project with that condition and with the shade-sail option listed as a bid alternate.
Details and costs discussed: Commissioners and staff estimated seating around the new kiddie/play area at roughly 60–70 seats depending on configuration. The project's full construction estimate discussed at the meeting was about $1.1 million for the overall pool work; the shade-sail alternate was discussed informally in the range of $80,000–$85,000. Drainage and suction protection will follow code: Parisi said pool drains will be Virginia Graeme Baker (VGB) compliant as required.
The commission's formal motion (Case A-2-2026) to approve the exterior appearance and site plan review included the request that staff explore landscaping options on the pool's south side to balance neighbor privacy and public-safety sightlines. The motion passed on a roll-call vote with all commissioners present voting yes.
Next steps: The design team will complete permit submissions, including final review by IDPH, refine the bid package (shade sails as alternates), and the village will move to bidding and construction scheduling once bids and permits are in hand.
