Oak Park’s 68-Year-Old Pool Shuts Down as City Plans Indoor Aquatic Center

The Oak Park outdoor pool closed its gates for good on September 6, 2025. After serving the community since 1957, the shutdown marks the start of plans for a new indoor swimming center.

Neighbors gathered at a "Last Dip" send-off for their cherished swimming spot. The pool sat nestled between a library and a park, where kids splashed and played for nearly seven decades.

"This used to be my playground. This was where I spent my teenage years. All our friends were here," said Cheryl Weiss, a 57-year resident, according to Metro Mode Media.

Money spent on fixes reached half a million dollars since 2020. Like other outdoor pools nearby, the site faced constant battles with weather damage and rising costs. The neighboring town of Southfield made a similar choice, closing their outdoor pools.

Voters backed the new indoor center in 2023. The plan won support from 57% of Oak Park citizens, who agreed to fund it through bonds and taxes. Workers will need up to three years to build the facility.

City Manager Erik Tungate led a push to hear from locals before the vote. "We decided to go to our residents and ask what they would like to see in our community. We approached it from a quality of life standpoint," said Tungate.

Staff held twenty town halls and more than a dozen public meetings. They sent out surveys in mail and online. Most people picked an indoor pool as their top choice for the city.

Some fought to keep the old pool open. Carey Gustafson started an online petition that drew 638 names. "There's virtually nowhere within 30 minutes that is cheaper," Gustafson said.

Yet Kenneth Sherman saw wisdom in the change after learning about repair bills. "They sunk in half a million dollars for upkeep. I just think of all the police officers that could have been hired, or city activities that could have used that money," Sherman said.

While building goes on, Oak Park will work with nearby towns so people can still swim. "We have a responsibility to do what is best for our community based on the will of the voters," Tungate said.