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Letter: Swim pass rules need review
Updated: September 11, 2012 1:43PM
Swim pass rules
need review
During the first 39 years of my living in Hinsdale the community pool was always open from the first or second week of June until Labor day. Weekday hours were typically noon-9:30 p.m. Additionally, two 50 meter lanes were sectioned off at 5:30 p.m. for those who wanted to swim that length.
Why has this been changed? And why does the pool close in mid-August? The reason given by the city is strictly monetary.
During the last two weeks of August for the past few years there has been a morning swim from 5:30-7:15 a.m. at which time the Hinsdale Central High School girls swim team and a private group of swimmers, the Hinsdale Swim Club, swim. The swim club is made up primarily of nonresidents. It seems the club has taken precedents to exclusion of any Hinsdale resident who wishes to share the lanes.
It is my understanding that the swim club pays the village a fee for the required lifeguard and pool time. I have personally offered to pay a use fee, in addition to my taxes, but was told I could not do so. For the village to sell Hinsdale residents a “seasonal pass” and then during the last two weeks of that “season” preclude them from using the lanes and simultaneously sell swim time to an outside private group is clearly a double dipping and a disenfranchisement of native citizens.
I hope the Village Board will take a serious look into this situation for the coming 2013 season.
Bendt Bladel
Hinsdale
