Chicago Travel Forum

Hi all,

I am here in Chicago for 3 months on official assignment. One of my colleagues who is with me is searching for a swimming pool because her doc has advised some therapy that involves swimming for her knee. We looked around and found a few gyms with pools but they charged quite a bit. And she is not going to use anything else in the gym apart from the pool so it does not make sense for her to pay an exorbitant fee and not use any of the other amenities. I was wondering if anybody knows about swimming pools that she can use, which are ideally not in a gym but separate. Our accommodation is in Lincoln Park and she would preferably like something close.

Thanks in advance!

Swati

It may be difficult to find what you are looking for. There are some public outdoor swimming pools in Chicago, but they are obviously children orientated and on hot Chicago summer days extremely crowded. For possible indoor pools that are not specifically fitness centers you could possibly try a YMCA or check with one of the area hotels that has a pool and ask them if they would allow you to use the pool for a specific fee. Sorry, I can't be more specific.

Link below if for public pools in the City. Most open mid-June, so if it says "closed" check for opening day. Several are near LIncoln Park, just cant
testify as to condition, especially for adults... Best wishes.

I miss the city!

http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/pool_schedules/list_of_pools.html

I didn't see a listing for Lincoln Park but the nearby neighborhood of Lakeview has a YMCA with a swimming pool. My husband uses a different YMCA to swim at and the fees are $30 per month, probably slightly more in Chicago, it looks like $47 per month. You can ask them if there's one closer to where you are staying.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/ymca-lakeview-chicago

http://www.lakeviewymca.org/

This idea isn't nearly as cheap but I thought I'd throw it out there, maybe even if she just wanted to do it for one day. The Intercontinental is supposed to have a fabulous historic pool (Johnny Weismueller and Esther Williams are said to have used this pool), a 1 day pass is $25, 3 months is $295 and it is on the Mag Mile, not in Lincoln Park.

http://www.icchicagohotel.com/amenities/index.cfm

Actually there are several that are Lincoln Park or bordering Lincoln Park.
Your best bet may be the Wrightwood Pool @ 2534 N. Greenview. 312-742-7816.
I called, they are opening June 12. If you click on the link for Wrightwood Pool (my previous post) you will find a schedule for Adult swims, Aquatic classes, etc. HOpe this helps.

Map:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.adp?address=2534%20N.%20Greenview%20Ave.&city=Chicago&state=IL&county=Cook&country=US

I meant that I didn't see a YMCA near Lincoln Park. YMCA pools are indoors, park district pools are outdoors and right now it's too cold to swim in an outdoor pool, I don't believe they are heated. Plus lap swimming is virutally impossible in most outdoor public pools, isn't it? It was at least when I was a kid, they would have a mere 15 minutes per hour for adults to swim, perhaps it has changed.

Thanks for all the suggestions guys! I think Gill pool is a good bet, she is going to check it out and see if its good :) She doesn't know swimming, she is just supposed to sit by the side of the pool and exercise her knee in the water. So I think Gill pool is good enough for that. Or as you all recommended the beach is free!

Oops sorry someone else had recommended the beach but then that too is a last resort option!