PARK DISTRICTS, FOREST PRESERVES AND RECREATION DEPARTMENTS
WORKING TOGETHER WITH CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS TO BUILD OUR COMMUNITIES

BY LIZA McELROY, CLP

Six Park Districts Resuscitate a Pool

After five years, a six-agency partnership with a local high school is going swimmingly

Many say that intergovernmental cooperation is the wave of the future. This may be news to some, but park districts have been cooperating with other units of government, particularly schools, for years. In Chicago's "North Shore" neighborhoods, park districts are cooperating with park districts to form a partnership with a school, and it's benefiting residents from six communities.

Some History

New Trier High School, located in Wilmette, serves the residents of six North Shore Chicago communities (Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette, Winnetka and part of Glenview) with two campuses—New Trier East in Winnetka and New Trier West in Northfield. The Northfield or "West Campus" was added in 1965 when enrollment at New Trier peaked at over 5,000 students.

As enrollments declined in the early '80s, die West Campus was closed and, in effect, "mothballed." Use of the campus was minimal. Use of its swimming pool—the set for popular Hollywood films like "Home Alone"—dried up and spaces in the school, renamed "West Center," were rented out to local businesses and service organizations, including the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association and the North Shore Senior Center.

In 1991, the Winnetka Park District held a referendum to raise taxes for the purpose of converting the health and physical education building at the West Campus into a community center. This building contained six gymnasiums, an indoor pool and multiple dance studios and multi-purpose rooms. The potential uses for this aban doned building were endless. Unfortunately, the referendum was defeated. While residents supported die concept, they did not want to pay higher taxes and a formal, organized group opposed the referendum.

Instead of giving up, officials from die Winnetka Park District contacted die park districts of Glencoe, Kenilworth, Northfield, Wilmette and Glenview (together the six comprise New Trier Township) to determine if diere was enough interest to at least pursue the reopening of the swimming pool on a township-wide basis. They formed a "Co-op" and began negotiations with die New Trier Township school board.

After months of negotiations among the park districts and the school board, a ten-year lease was finally agreed upon with the option for a five-year extension. If the Co-op were to dissolve prior to the termination of the lease, the Co-op must provide New Trier with a one year notice. If New Trier were to reclaim the pool, the school must provide the Co-op with a one-year notice as well.

Since this was a new endeavor for all involved, it took many months to determine a fair lease. It was agreed that neither the Co-op nor the high school would subsidize the pool. The Co-op pays rent on a square footage basis and pays for a percentage of the overall campus utility bills.

In August of 1992, formal Articles of Agreement were developed, which outline the details of the partnership and formalize the New Trier Park District Cooperative or "Co-op." The "West Center Pool" officially opened that same September.

January/February 1997 / 9

How the Co-op Works

The mission of the Co-op, or "Cooperative," is to operate the West Center Pool as a year-round aquatic center for the recreational benefit of township residents. At the foundation of the aquatic program is the provision of recreational public swim opportunities. Upon this foundation a comprehensive and diverse aquatic program was built which consists of instructional classes, lap swimming, aqua fitness, competitive swimming, special uses and group pool rentals.

Similar to a special recreation association board, each park district is represented on the Co-op board by its director of parks and recreation. In addition, there is one representative from each park board. The Co-op board meets monthly to review financials, approve vouchers, set policy and address all pool related issues. A chairman and vice-chairman are elected each year at the annual meeting.

In the fall of 1996, an amendment was added to the lease regarding utilities. As the result of an independent study on utility consumption, it was found that the Co-op was not paying its fair share, thus a change in the utility percentage was made. In addition, some space that was not being used by the Co-op was taken off me lease and an adjustment in rent was made. When the amendment to the lease was added, all member agencies were given the opportunity to opt out of the Co-op as this change increased each agency's member district contribution. The next opportunity for any agency to opt out is in 1999 as stated in the Articles of Agreement.

The Winnetka Park District has been designated the administrative agency for the Co-op. Winnetka provides all personnel, supplies and services on behalf of the Cooperative. The administrative agency is reimbursed by the Cooperative on an annual basis for services rendered. In addition, an annual independent audit of the Co-op is prepared and submitted to all member agencies for review and approval, separate from the Winnetka Park District audit.

Fees are set by the Cooperative and assessed to the user at levels designed to be sufficient for the pool operation to be financially self sustaining. Unfortunately, the pool is not self-sustaining. With the emphasis on recreational public swim opportunities, it has been very difficult to generate enough revenue to offset the expenses necessary to run an indoor pool.

Because the pool operates at a loss, pool subsidies are passed on to each member agency. All member contributions are based on the same formula used to generate percentage contributions for the special recreation association. The formula is based upon 50 percent of each community's populations to the whole plus 50 percent of the equalized assessed valuation (EAV) to the whole. It is a goal of the Co-op to one day onset operating expenses with revenues.

Subsidy levels for the smaller agencies range from $3,700 to $7,000 and the larger community subsidies range from $12,000 to $34,000. No matter, this is a very inexpensive way for communities to provide year-round swimming opportunities for residents.

How the Township Benefits

The West Center Pool has been nothing but a success since its doors opened in 1992. The facility is open seven days a week from early morning until late at night, 50 weeks a year. The pool caters to the needs of a variety of swimmers and it seems to work quite well. On average 900 to 1,000 season memberships are sold annually and 2,800 swimmers participate in swimming lessons throughout the course of the year. Countless lap swimmers fill the lanes, while seniors pack the aerobic classes. Summer day camps from each of the member agencies utilize the facility throughout the summer. Every Friday is teen night. Like an ice arena, there are times when a second pool would be handy!

The response to the pool was so positive, that in 1994 the Co-op investigated the opportunity to open a full-scale health club alongside the pool. Unfortunately, New Trier could not commit to the length of the lease necessary to make this economically feasible for the Co-op.

What Does the Future Hold?

What comes around, goes around. While back in the '80s the New Trier West Campus doors were dosed because of declining enrollments, today school officials are considering reopening the doors to students. Overcrowding is a serious issue at the lone East Campus and officials are pondering the future of that campus and West Center. The current lease expires in the year 2002. If New Trier elects not

10/ Illinois Parks and Recreation

to renew the lease of the pool, the Co-op has already begun to investigate other options for the future. Discussions have informally taken place about building a new indoor aquatic facility and linking it with other amenities such as a gym or ice arena.

Pending the outcome of this decision, it is clear that all member agencies of the Co-op wish to extend the lease. At the very least, if the school reopened, the Co-op would work with New Trier and perhaps remain the operators of the pool and share space with the high school.

Time will tell what the future holds, but all in the Co-op hope that the presence of the New Trier Park District Cooperative lives on, if not at West Center, then perhaps a home of its own. •

LIZA McELROY, CLP
is the superintendent of recreation of the Winnetka Park District.

Why the Partnership Works Simply put, the West Center Pool serves a need for yearround swimming, which has been a need in each of the six North Shore Chicago communities. Only Wllmette and Glenview own outdoor pools. The remaining members of the Co-op depend on Lake Michigan to serve their residents. While the Great Lake is a tremendous asset for each community, the opportunity for swimming is very limited, as the temperature of Lake Michigan generally does not "warm up" to 68 degrees until late August. "It was the willingness of the six elected park boards and the high school board willing to come together to benefit their constituents," says Dan Newport, director of the Winnetka Park District. "That is what got things started and continuing to go as well as they have." Janis Steele, manager of the West Center Pool, feels that the pool serves a need for many residents. At the same time, she has worked hard to train staff in customer service, making the facility a place people want to come to and have fun. "There is a mutual trust on the part of all agencies participating," says Terry Porter, director of the Wllmette Park District and current vice-chairman of the Co-op. "It is a facility that was desired by each community, however, could not be financially supported by an individual agency." - Liza McElroy, CLP

11/ Illinois Parks and Recreation