Our community is being left behind while neighboring cities invest in world-class aquatic facilities. It's time for Naperville to catch up and serve our growing aquatic community.
No competitive training facility: Our swimmers must travel 30+ minutes to access 50-meter pools for proper training and competition preparation.
Limited hosting capability: We cannot host major swim meets, losing economic opportunities and forcing our athletes to compete elsewhere.
Falling behind neighbors: St. Charles, Westmont, and other communities have invested in 50-meter facilities while Naperville lags behind.
Talent drain: Young athletes leave Naperville programs for better facilities elsewhere, weakening our local teams and community.
Average weekly travel time for competitive swimmers
8+ hours
Plus gas, wear on vehicles, and family time lost
Naperville's aquatic community continues to grow every year
Naperville residents (both children and adults) participate in aquatic activities (swimming, water polo, diving, etc)
State champions and Olympic trial qualifiers in the past 25 years (Ellen Stonebraker, Greg Busse, Mary Descenza, Kevin Cordes, Sean Lehane, Gia Dalesandro, Rachel Stege)
Families participate in learn-to-swim and fitness programs
"Considering the existing vibrant culture of swimming in Naperville, a high quality natatorium may very well transform the lives of our kids. Research shows that healthy and fit children grow up to be successful in every aspect of life, including doing better in schools, earning more, and influencing healthy behavior across multiple generations."
Ari
Resident, Naperville
"Not having facilities that match this integral part of the Naperville community while seeing multiple other sports having better facilities shows a lack of commitment and understanding to just how many people are affected by this community."
Derrick
Resident, Naperville
Naperville is falling behind similar communities in aquatic facilities
| City | Population | 50m Pool | Year Built | Annual Meets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naperville | 149,540 | ❌ No | - | 0 |
| Chicago | 2,716,450 | ✅ Yes (x3) | Latest: 2003 | ~18 |
| St. Charles | 32,654 | ✅ Yes | 1975 | ~14 |
| Westmont | 23,933 | ✅ Yes | 2020 | ~17 |
| Evanston | 78,110 | ✅ Yes | 2019 | 4+ |
Naperville is one of the largest communities in Illinois and does not have a 50-meter pool, despite our population and strong swimming community.
Naperville deserves world-class aquatic facilities. Join our campaign to make the 50-meter pool a reality through private funding and community support.