We will stipulate that our fully stretched reporting staff does not pay close attention to the Park District of Oak Park. That’s on us. So we were surprised to receive the press release from the park district last week that on the previous evening the park board unanimously approved placing a tax hike referendum on the March 2026 ballot to raise $40 million to build an indoor pool at Ridgeland Common.
An indoor pool has been on the park district’s wish list for a long time. They have surveys saying a majority of villagers would support a mythical pool in an unnamed location at an unspecified price tag.
Asked by the Journal when this specific plan to replace the outdoor pool at Ridgeland Common with an indoor facility was discussed publicly, we’re told it was talked about last June at a public park board retreat. And that it is included in a park district planning document. That said, the first time it turned up on a board meeting agenda was last week.
The park district will make its case to voters in the new year. Voters will decide in March if they’re satisfied with how this plan came forward and if they are willing to pay the cost.
