By: Diane Benjamin
I continue to get reports of few people at the O’Neil Aquatics Center. According to this article, it cost $13.8 million: https://www.wglt.org/local-news/2024-05-24/oneil-aquatic-center-makes-a-splash-with-memorial-day-weekend-opening
H/T a reader. This pic is 6:00 pm on a Thursday night, the pool is open until 7:00:
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Keep in mind, instead of replacing both City owned pools that badly needed replaced, a previous City Council with Tari Renner as mayor decided the west side needed a water park. Holiday pool still needs replaced.
See Aquatics program attendance below, paddle boats are included. Splash Pads are also included under aquatics, since they are free I don’t see how users can be included.
2013: 53,272
2014: 55,281
2015: 55,871
2016: 59,673
2017: 65,295
2018: 60,833
2019: 56,926
2020: closed for COVID
2021: 30,794 O’Neil closed
2022: 35,029 O’Neil closed
Obviously people who were using O’Neil didn’t use Holiday pool when that pool closed.
We won’t know 2023 usage until financial statements are released months from now. I would have to FOIA 2024.
Source: PDF pages 193 and 194: https://www.bloomingtonil.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/29768/638343406333130000
I did FOIA revenue just for the Water Park. I find it funny they prorated the season passes when it’s only going to be open until Labor Day.
In typical Bloomington fashion, prices and options are as difficult as possible to understand: https://www.bloomingtonparks.org/programs/aquatics/aquatics-1566
I will file a FOIA request for attendance and revenue data after the water park closes for the year. Meanwhile, keep sending me pictures showing how many people are using the park. I really hope the investment pays off, but since it’s only open for a few months a year, the ROI is doubtful.
Maybe when the State finally fixes Route 9 through town, people on the east side will be more likely to drive there.
We went 2 Sundays ago. The price is too high. It’s $9 for kids and $12 for adults. I said when they were thinking of putting this together that they should have just fixed the pool and put in a pool on the east side of Bloomington where the property values would be positively affected. Pool not water park. My six year old was too short for the big slide, so she immediately jumped off the high dive. Kinda surprised they kept the high dive. They do have good lifeguard coverage. Because it’s not crowded, it was relaxing to go there. For Normal parks, Anderson closes way too early. It’s a shame to be so anti-working people. Plus both cities should go back to offering reasonable family passes!
I considered taking my kids to O’Neil last week. To be honest, we went to Anderson in Normal because I just don’t like the location of O’Neil. It looks nice and looks to have perfect slides and amenities for my young kids, but I just wouldn’t feel as safe. I hate to say that, but its the truth.
They offer swim classes there. Took one of my kids. Seems they use some of their lifeguards who have had additional training. Comparing that to Rob Knight’s swim classes (also a four-year alum of those with multiple teachers including Rob himself… all of which I consider pretty darn good teachers/instructors) those Park District classes and staffers are pretty darn good. Maybe in a couple cases every bit as good as RKSA (Knight’s school).
In fact, I would single out two of the Park District kids as just as good or better… specifically Natalia and Archer. Both looked young (Archer looked about 16) but both showed exceptional skill sets working with the young kids and making it fun for them.
Both mom and I were very pleased with our kid’s advancement too.
As for the park, our fam has been there 3 times. Had a great time. Prices keep most of the hooligans/trash out. Lifeguard coverage is generous and then some. Seeing them implement emergency response one day was impressive. They did very well for a bunch of very young people. (I have seen poor performance from higher paid “pros” at big $ theme parks before.) As an instructor myself, I will say that whoever is in charge of training there at Oneill is top notch.
As for neighborhood safety, it is just fine. It isn’t Hawthorne Hills, but if you think that ‘hood surrounding ONeill is sketchy, you’re probably at greater risk at the West Side Walmart and (particularly) its parking lot. Or riding local mass transit. Or walking downtown (either B or N).
If .gov is gonna lose $, they may as well lose it here instead of on worthless “violence prevention” programs like paying gang bangers and other career felons, er I mean “justice impacted individuals” $200 per day to “prevent” violence. Or run buses around empty all day. Or pay generous six-figure pensions to gov’t apparachiks for 30 years. Or ESPECIALLY on those damn illegals!
RKSA has gone downhill, especially with the Knights less involved. Unfortunately the folks they have when they’re not there are not friendly. It seems like 4 Seasons brought them in to offset their own financial losses.
The pool at O’Neill had a golden opportunity to host the local summer swim conference championships but passed. Hopefully they do next year because it is a chance to bring in a lot of revenue and showcase it to the community. It would be the perfect event to sell passes at for the following summer.