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Sports

Suburban Stadiums: Oriole Park and Pool

Although smaller in size when compared to Harrer Pool, Oriole Pool still offers residents a variety of programs and fun events to attend.

Each week in Suburban Stadiums, Morton Grove Patch will feature a different local athletic facility, from fitness centers to neighborhood parks. We’ll dive into its history, list what programs it has to offer and provide a calendar of major events hosted at the space.

ORIOLE PARK AND POOL

In contrast to Morton Grove’s bigger, more action-packed Harrer Pool, Oriole Pool has a more local feel and consistently attracts a solid group of loyal swimmers aquatic adventurists.

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Facility and History: The idea of a second pool in Morton Grove became a reality when the Park District purchased the land known today as Oriole Park in 1963. Four years later, a petition, followed by a second chance vote, enabled the Park District to plan for the construction of a swimming pool and residents soon approved a $425,000 bond to build the pool at Oriole Park.

In August of 1969, the pool opened, only seven years after Harrer Pool first opened earlier that decade. By 1992, the wading pools at Harrer and Oriole Parks had been replaced and the Illinois Department of Conservation awarded a grant of $100,000 for the park’s redevelopment.

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Oriole now has an L-shaped pool, one-meter diving board, a small tube slide and a zero-depth kiddie pool. One of its most popular features is the 50-meter lap lane.

“There are a dedicated group of people who want to do laps because of the long course,” said Jen Tiltges, Recreation Supervisor at Morton Grove Park District.

In addition the swimming pool, Oriole Park has a basketball court, concession stand, playground, sand volleyball court and three tennis courts on its 3.5 acre lot.

Programming: Even with its smaller facility and calmer atmosphere, Oriole Park plays host to a variety of aquatic classes, educational opportunities and special events.

One of the newest programs at Oriole Park is giving local Boy and Girl Scout troops the opportunity to earn a number of water-related badges at the pool.

“I know it’s really hard for our Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops to earn some of the patches related to water, water safety and water sports because they just don’t have the opportunity for getting a pool pace or a lake space to do some of these specialized requirements,” said Tiltges, a former Girl Scout. “Being familiar with the Scouts, I knew what it would take so we just offered up to all the troops in the area that if they wanted to we could get them some pool space and we’d be there to facilitate and help them out.”

The pool hosts three different water classes—Aquacize, Aqua-Arthritis and Hydro Pilates—that are very popular among residents.

More recently, the Park District has been focused on bringing some nighttime fun to Oriole Pool. They sponsor different events, including Canoe Races and Diving in the Deep, on Thursday nights and hold a couple "Float Then Flick" nights, which show movies on the pool deck.

“People don’t always think about going to the pool in the evening, they kind of think of hot summer days and weekends,” Tiltges said. “So we wanted to come up with some fun creative events in which we could use the pool in a different way.”

Calendar of Events:

  • Float-N-Fun Days: Mondays from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM and Sundays from Noon – 2:00 PM
  • High School Water Polo scrimmages from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on Wednesdays
  • July 14 – Canoe Races
  • July 16 and August 5: Float Then Flick Night
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