Lions Won't Keep Clarendon Hills Pool Open
CLARENDON HILLS, IL – The Clarendon Hills Lions Club announced Thursday it would not operate the local pool if the park district returned it to the group.
Until 2003, the club ran and maintained the Lions Park Pool.
Since then, the club said it has continued to support the pool by providing the property to the Clarendon Hills Park District under a lease agreement. That pact does not require the district to pay rent or any other amount to the club, the group said.
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The club noted the agreement requires the district to return the pool to the group if the pool ceases operation.
“If that should happen, the Club is not in a position to undertake and continue the operation and maintenance of the community pool,” the Lions said in a statement. “In short, the community pool will cease to operate if the pool property is returned to the club.”
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The club said its predecessors undertook “enormous effort” to pay for, build and run the pool because members believed it would greatly enhance the town.
“Our current members continue to believe the pool can serve this desirable purpose. However, we understand this important decision is now up to the voters,” the club said in the statement.
On March 19, voters will decide on a property tax increase to pay for the pool’s continued operation and improvements. If the measure fails, the district said it would return the pool to the Lions.
For the owner of a $500,000 house, the tax hike would mean a $203 annual increase for 15 years, according to the district.
Patch wrote a story recently about the district’s reasoning for the tax hike.
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