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Lincolnwood to tighten youth pool admission checks and add 150 nonresident passes, staff says
Summary
Parks staff proposed more rigorous age and residency checks for pool admissions, new distinct passes for under-13 youth, and a small increase of 150 nonresident pool passes (projected roughly $27,000 additional revenue); trustees asked staff to monitor peak counts and return more detailed hourly and peak data.
Parks and Recreation staff told Lincolnwood trustees on Jan. 20 they will tighten admissions screening at the village aquatic center, issue distinct passes for youth under 13 and increase the number of nonresident season passes by 150 following a review of usage and revenue opportunities.
Director Karen Hawk said the existing policy allows youth 13 and older to enter the pool unaccompanied and requires a responsible person 16 or older for younger children. To reduce uncertainty at the gate, the department will issue new-look passes in 2026 for youth ages 12 and under so staff can visually and electronically verify age. For day admissions, staff will implement a short verification script asking for address, school and date of birth and require proof of residency to use resident rates.
"We will issue a different pool pass that looks very different from the existing pass so that when they come in to swipe, staff can easily tell if they are under the age of 13," Hawk said.
On capacity and safety, staff reminded the board that pool capacity is calculated by regulating agencies by surface area; the highest recorded head count in recent years was 587 and staff have at times closed entry around 800 when conditions felt unsafe. Trustees asked for clearer peak-hour counts and for staff to track cash admissions and guest entries that do not swipe out so the department can monitor real crowding and staffing needs.
On nonresident passes, Hawk recommended increasing the cap by 150 nonresident passes, a change the Park and Recreation Board also backed; staff estimated the incremental revenue at approximately $27,000. Trustees supported the increase but asked staff to track hourly peak counts and be prepared to close entry if head counts approach unsafe levels.
Ending: The committee approved the recommendation to increase nonresident passes by 150 and asked staff to return with more granular peak-hour and guest-entry data and a plan to monitor the effect on staffing and safety.
Quote: "If we increase passes, then I think it's just important for our residents to have an idea...but we will monitor peak times closely," Hawk said.
