After a long, cold winter with below-freezing temperatures, Illinois residents throughout the state are ready for some fun in the sun in a great outdoor public pool. Many of the pools that are a part of the Illinois Park District, especially the pools in Chicago, are free of charge and open all summer. Others charge a nominal fee. Swimming is also universally known as one of the best physical activities to maintain health and fitness. It helps to know where the pools are located and when they are open in order to plan your swimming workout and day of fun.
Pool and Aquatic Center
Chicago's Whealan Park Aquatic Center simply had to be placed at the top of the list. First, it is a public pool with both a regular pool and a baby pool designed to keep things safer for younger children. But in addition to the pools, the aquatic center also has waterslides and a big sandbox area, all located in a beautiful forest preserve. For anyone into health and fitness, a day outdoors playing in the sun and swimming in the water is an ideal way to maintain wellness. As of summer 2010, the center charged adults $5 and kids ages 4 to 12 $3 for an entire day of fitness and fun. Children 3 and under were free.
Uptown Pool in Chicago
After months indoors, many people in the Chicago area prefer to spend as much time outside as they can during the summer months. And this is beneficial because many experts recommend a 30-minute dose of sunshine per day to get the benefits of Vitamin D and stay healthy. One way to get your Vitamin D and stay fit at the same time is to plan a day at the Chase Park Pool in the upscale neighborhood of Ravenswood. It has an outdoor pool that many locals in the area rate as one of the cleanest and most pleasant to swim in, and it's free to all--no membership required.
Bucktown Neighborhood Pool
Holstein Park, in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, came into existence back in 1854. It stayed a simple park with trees and grass for short walks until the city of Chicago decided to clean up the surrounding neighborhood and created the current facility that's a park, a pool and a full outdoor sports playground. It is now two square miles of parkland--a mecca for walking, jogging and bicycling to maintain fitness. The pool is known to be packed with kids and families, but it is free and very well-maintained. Pack a healthy picnic lunch and head for Holstein on the hottest days of summer.
Outdoor Pool in Urbana/Champaign
The Activities and Recreation Center on the University of Illinois' Urbana/Champaign campus is known as the Arc. The school renovated the outdoor swimming facility in 2008/2009. The pool is a haven for students and faculty, but most people in the community don't realize that the university extends swimming privileges to the general public who live in the area. You just have to ask or join one of the aquatics programs to use the outdoor pool. The Arc also offers a gym and other sports-related sections, making it a perfect place for all around fitness and exercise. A day pass as of summer 2010 was $10.
Outdoor Pool in Springfield
Springfield is the capital of Illinois and located smack in the center of the state. Unlike Chicago, there are no large natural lakes surrounding the area, just several smaller man-made ones. A local, public pool is the ideal place for a summertime swim. Just outside from Ramsey Lake State Park is a public pool in Vandalia. For those who like to camp, pitch a tent at the state park and hike over to the public pool for a daily swim, free of charge. Ramsey Lake also offers walking trails and bicycling possibilities for anyone into keeping fit while exploring nature.
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