Bensenville Park District to offer free swim lessons for ages 3-5

Bensenville, Ill.—The Bensenville Park District is among 16 Illinois public swimming facilities selected to receive funding through the 2025 Protect Swimmers 10M Swim Lesson Funding Opportunity to provide free swim lessons for 30 in-district preschoolers. The Protect Swimmers 10M Swim Lesson program is a statewide initiative supporting free swim lessons to improve water safety skills and reduce the risk of drowning-related injuries and fatalities.

Funded by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP), the Protect Swimmers 10M initiative provides critical support to ensure preschool-aged children have access to lifesaving swim lessons. The Bensenville Park District will offer eight no-cost swim lessons per participant between June and July at the Bensenville Water Park & Splash Pad, 1100 W. Wood St.

Classes will focus on key water safety skills, including safely entering and exiting the water, surfacing and floating and propelling forward in the water.

“This funding allows us to expand access to essential swim education and reach the youngest members of our community who are most at risk,” says Joe Vallez, Executive Director of the Bensenville Park District. “We are proud to help kids become safer and more confident in the water.”

The free swim lessons are open to in-district residents only, ages 3–5, and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 30 registrants. Registration opens at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 13, at the Deer Grove Leisure Center, 1000 W. Wood St. in Bensenville. Families must mention the Protect Swimmers Program when enrolling. Proof of residency is required at the time of registration. Late applicants will be put on a waitlist.

Participants must attend all eight classes, and students exceeding the intended skill level may be referred to a different class. The park district offers two choices of times for weekday classes, which run 9:30-10 a.m. and 10:05-10:35 a.m. Tuesdays-Fridays, June 3-13, June 17-27, July 8-18 or July 22-Aug. 1. Saturday Sessions run 11-11:30 a.m. June 7-Aug. 2, with no class July 5. Participants may only sign up for one free eight-class session.

Participants should bring a towel, appropriate swimwear and may wear swim goggles (no full-face masks). Flotation devices are not permitted. In the event of inclement weather, make-up classes will be held the following Monday at the same time. Parents are welcome to observe from any deck seating areas.

For more information, visit BvilleParks.org or call (630) 766-7015.