Big Problem Means Costly Hinsdale Pool Project

HINSDALE, IL – The wading pool at Hinsdale Community Pool leaked all of its water every day last season, so the village plans to replace it, an official said Tuesday.

The estimated price tag is $1.1 million, not including design costs.

In June, the Village Board approved $39,000 for emergency repairs to address leaks in the wading pool, which is for children aged 7 and younger.

But the problem continued. The village had to refill the pool every day, all 40,000 gallons, Trustee Matt Posthuma told the Village Board.

"That's kind of crazy," he said. "The problem is that leaks are under the pool, and we can't really repair those leaks without ripping out the entire pool."

An architect has recommended that the village move the piping from underneath the pool to nearby landscaping. This way, Posthuma said, it will be more easily accessible when future leaks occur.

The wading pool was last renovated in 1992.

The work is expected to last 18 months, meaning the wading pool would reopen for the 2027 season. Officials are working on some type of arrangement with Clarendon Hills and Western Springs for younger children to go to their pools.

Clarendon Hills renovated its pool complex over the summer, which meant more pool-goers in Hinsdale.

In 2024, a third of Hinsdale's pool-goers were between 2 and 8, according to the village.

Noting the $1.1 million cost, Posthuma said, "Unfortunately, this is not going to be a cheap endeavor."

But he said the village expects to get state grants totaling nearly $300,000. It already has about $600,000 in its capital budget for the project, with the village planning to add the rest to that budget.

The village plans to spend $124,500 with Itasca-based Williams Architects to do the designs.