Outdoor Swimming Fun in Chicago or Suburbs

Hi M.,

I know of a great water park with 2 playgrounds, a sand box, a baseball field, and a place to play volley ball. I don't know how far you live, but the park is in Westmont. It's called Ty-Warner park. It's worth the trip. Adults are free, and children are 4 dollars. Take Manneheim Road(La Grange Rd.) to Ogden Ave, make a right. Take ogden to Blackhawk Drive, and make a right. Maybe about a half a block you will see the park. I hope you enjoy it.

Great Chicago Park District water park called 'Adams Playlot' at Armitage and Seminary in Licoln Park. Check out the CHicago Park District website for a map and details. It gets crowded but its a fabulous park. Good luck!

I don't know if it is too far for you, but there is a GREAT water park just into Indiana (Just outside Merrillville/Hammond)off of I-65. Here is a link to their website: http://www.splashdowndunes.com/. It is really clean and well run!

To get there you take 80/94 to I-65 (you can also take the Skyway to I-65 if you don't mind the toll) then get off of 65 onto Highway 30 going East (Left) and the water park is on your right just outside of Merrillville.

Hope that helps,

R. T.

I know of two great places in the western Suburbs.
1) Forest Park public pool. Adults are $9.25, kids under 3 free. This is an awesome pool for my 2 year old. It has two great kids areas. The first is part of the pool -which is a zero depth pool -it has water fountains, a slide and the kids love it. The other area is a splash park (no additional fee). There is also an entire sand box area. Outside the pool is a park where we brought a picnic. YOu could spend all day there.
2) Cypress cove in Woodridge. This is a water park, has some great stuff for an active 2 year old -slides, lazy river, Zero depth pool, sand area. I think the cost is $10 for adults, again children under 3 are free. After 4 or 5 (not sure) it is half price (and not as crowded).

Good luck.

The rigdeland commons on lake and ridgeland in oak park there is a fee but you can stay all day.

Hi M., The Portage Park neighborhood has a fantastic park with an Olympic sized swimming pool and a great children's water area. They held Olympic trials at this pool many years ago. The kids area has a structure with lots of slides and things like that. They also have a sprinkler area where water pops up. My son is too young to go in the water yet (3 months) but we walk over and watch the kids sometimes. Entrance to the pool is free. I am not sure what the hours are. The park also has a playground area. The park is located on Irving Park Road, about a mile west of Cicero.

I like both our pools in Elmhurst. The Smalley Pool is zero entry, which seems to be getting more common in the suburbs, so it might not be that unusual. There are also a couple of fountains and things that my two-year-old really likes. The East End pool has fountains in the baby pool.

Elmhurst also has a spray ground at The Hub. I don't know if you'd get a day out of just the spray ground, but we usually get a morning out of it.

Here is the link to the pools. http://www.epd.org/pools.html. Once you get on this site you can also find information about the hub. You can go to any of our pools as a nonresident; it just costs a little bit more.

Another suburb that has a good pool is Naperville with their Centennial Beach, which could be a nice day outing because it's a beach setting with a zero entry pool and also has nice parks, restaurants, and shopping within walking distance. They also have the dragon sculptures in town right now, which my kids love.

I understand Lisle also has a fun water park - Sea Lion or something like that, but I've never been to it. You could probably check out Lisle and Naperville park district web sites to get more information on their pools.

Good luck and have fun!

I know of 2 waterparks. One Park is in Hillside/Berkely. It has a pool for adults and bigger kids and mushrooms, waterhole, etc for toddlers. I am not sure it is still open because my son is 12 1/2 now and I used to take him when he was a toddler.

There is also a waterpark that my sister has taken my son to in Skokie. Good luck.

Don't know which burbs you are in, but there is Ty Warner splash pad in Westmont that is $4/day for non-residents and a great place for little kids (my 20 month old loves it). Also has a sand play area and general playground stuff.

The Oak Brook Aquatic Center has daily non-pass admissions (I googled it). As does Bolingbrook Pelican Harbor and Aquatic center. There are daily pass admissions also at the Westchester park district pool, or Rehm or Ridgeland pools in Oak Park.

All of these pools have great areas for little kids in addition to the big pools. I've been gathering info on public pools for the past year or so to have options this summer as well.

Ty Warner Park in Westmont, just off Ogden near Cass. Call the Westmont Park District for more details. Great playground, 0 depth sprinkler park and snack/food stand. I think it's $4 for non residents and they don't charge for adults. Otherwise, in Chicago there's a water/sprinkler park off of Armitage (parking is brutal). I just remember you turn off Armitage right where there's a firehouse. It's west of Halsted, and closer to where Armitage ends (where you turn off of Clybourn). If that is too confusing, try calling the Chicago Park District. Have fun.

The norridge park district has a great little section for the little ones, it is a little pricey though, and I have never been in (only drive past) the Park Ridge one.....but it looks great!
C.