A Go West Sneak Peek: Otter Cove Aquatic Facility in St. Charles

Once Otter Cove opens at the end of May 2011, it will be an easy (and fun!) outing indeed. So I'm including it in this "Easy Outing" section.

I need to go shopping this weekend to buy my daughter some more swimsuits. Once she sees Otter Cove Aquatic Park in St. Charles, I’m sure we’ll be returning again. And again. And again.

This slide empties into the activity pool. Photos by Tara Burghart.I was so lucky to get a guided tour of the not-quite-finished aquatic facility this week, and today I get to give readers of Go West Young Mom a sneak peek! If you grew up like me, thinking that a Slip  ‘n’ Slide in your front yard was about as good as summer could get, I think you’ll be amazed by Otter Cove.

The 9-acre Otter Cove Aquatic Park is located at the intersection of Peck Road and Campton Hills Road on the west side of St. Charles. It is scheduled to open May 28, with a grand opening scheduled for June 4 featuring games, prizes and catered food.

The aquatic park is part of the St. Charles Park District and was made possible by the passing of a refendum in 2008. It is located right next to theOttter Cove Splash Park, which I’m sure many of you are familiar with. Depending on what kind of pass you buy or daily rate you choose, you will be able to use just the splash park -– or travel between both the aquatic park and the splash park. (A park district staffer will man a gate between the two complexes and check wristbands.)

The drop slides empty into a portion of the lap pool that's 12 feet deep.Otter Cove Aquatic Park was actually supposed to open in the summer of 2010, but late approval of several permits delayed its opening by an entire year.

When I visited on Wednesday, lounge chairs were being delivered and a worker was fixing a problem with some of the signs. Much of the landscaping might have to wait until fall.

My friendly and informative tour guide was Steve Muenz, assistant superintendent of recreation for the St. Charles Park District. I could tell that he is very proud of the facility, but he will be relieved when it opens!

The aquatic facility has four water areas, and all but the lap pool feature “zero-depth entry” (like you get on the sandy beach), which is particularly helpful for the elderly, people with disabilities and the very young. Here are some details on those water areas: 

• The “toddler pool” is completely gated and is aimed at children 6 and under. It is 2 ½ feet deep at its deepest end and has features that will dump and spray water on the kiddies.
• The “activity pool” will appeal to the widest range of folks. It has a frog slide for the little ones and spinning water wheels that will spray water and a "mushroom" that water will cascade down. It is 3 ½ feet deep at its deepest. The tall orange slide dumps into the activity pool.
• The “lap pool” measures 25 yards and features five lanes that can be used by people swimming laps. The lap area is about 5 feet deep, but in the same pool is a 12-feet-deep well. Above it will be two diving boards and two drop slides – both of the latter are steep and will be quick descents!
• The Lazy River might be the most unique feature, especially for a public facility. It is 600 feet long, 12 feet wide and 3 feet deep. The current will carry swimmers as they ride an inflatable tube (double tubes will be available) slowly around the giant loop. You can either walk into the Lazy River (from the zero-depth access area) or ride into it from the tall yellow slide overlooking the park. There are a couple of water features here, too, that will dump or spray water on riders – and kids on the pool deck are sure to love the spray cannons they can aim at friends, family or complete strangers!

Otter Cove will feature concession stand windows and a pavilion with tables and chairs. Belgio's Catering of Naperville is handling the catering at Otter Cove, as well as at Swanson Pool in Pottawatomie Park.  (Swanson Pool, which is more than 70 years old, has been renovated and will reopen June 4.)

The toddler pool is enclosed by a fence and features zero-depth entry.The main building will house the locker rooms and showers for women and men, as well as a couple of family restrooms that will include bathrooms and showers and can be used for families to change.

Otter Cove will be available for private rentals and birthday parties. Cabanas measuring 10-by-10 feet will be rented on a daily basis and included, when available, in birthday party packages.

Check the website for detailed info on the rates, but in general the daily admission for a St. Charles Park District resident 15 and under will be $8 and $12 for non-residents. The “twilight rate” – the last two hours the pool is open – will be $5 for everyone, all ages.

If you only want to use the Otter Cove Splash Park, the daily fee for it will be $4 for resident children and $6 for non-resident children, with adults free with a paid child.

For those who think they might be more regular visitors, the Otter Cove Aquatic Park season pass includes entry into the aquatic park, Otter Cove Splash Park and Swanson Pool.

There are a number of different season pass options, but let's take a family of four as an example. In that case, the cost for a season pass would be $275 for residents and $413 for non-residents. The park district is offering a special “neighbor” rate for residents of the towns of Campton Hills, LaFox, Wasco, West Chicago, Geneva, South Elgin, Elburn and Batavia. For a family of four, the neighbor rate is $344.

The lazy river is 3 feet deep.Here’s my personal take on the Otter Cove Aquatic Park: It’s a truly beautiful facility that seems to offer something for everyone, whether it’s a baby who just wants to sit and splash in the toddler pool, a teen who wants to zoom down one of the slides or a dedicated swimmer who wants to swim laps every morning. And I love that the zero-depth entry at the toddler pool, the Lazy River and the activity pool makes them truly accessible to everyone.

I’m sure residents of St. Charles (and the park district staff members!) were dismayed and frustrated when its opening was postponed for a year. And obviously tax dollars from residents of the St. Charles Park District are used for projects like this.

But personally, these kinds of amenities – along with a great education system – were a big part of the decision when my husband and I moved to the far western ‘burbs from Chicago.

When I was raving about the pool complex to my husband, he asked me if I saw anything that would be a drawback. “I’m sure it will be very busy,” I said.

But of course that brings to mind the old Yogi Berra quote: “Nobody goes there anymore. It’s too crowded.”

Once it opens, I’ll be eager to hear what Go West Young Mom readers think of the Otter Cove Aquatic Facility.

Finally, I want to thank the St. Charles Park District, and especially Steven Muenz -- who took time out of his day -- for letting me bring you this sneak peek. 

Below you'll find a number of more photos for you to take a look at. You can find even more in this Flickr albumI created. Remember, despite this chilly spring we're having, Memorial Day and the unofficial start of summer -- and pool season -- is just a few weeks away!

The lap lanes are 5 feet deep. The end with the diving boards and slides is 12 feet deep.The entrance to the lazy river is zero-depth entry.The frog slide in the large activity pool is designed for little ones.There are a couple of lift chairs that can be used to lower the elderly and people with disabilities into the water.

The concession area will feature food from Belgio's Catering.

Otter Cove Splash Park (with the orange and white umbrellas) will be connected to the aquatic facility by a gate.The activity pool has water splashing and spraying features, too.The orange slide empties into the activity pool, the yellow slide into the lazy river.