From gun violence (big problem) to voter fraud (not), government representatives work to protect citizens and their rights. Peoria City Council On June 14, Monica Hendrickson, Public Health Administrator for Peoria County/City and Katy Endress, Director of Epidemiology and Clinical…Read more →
Afterschool programs have been a reliable source of support to young people and families who are balancing remote school or work, dealing with the health and economic stressors created by the pandemic, and managing the toll that COVID-19 is taking on their mental health and overall well-being (Afterschool Alliance, 2021).
Journal Star
It’s puzzling that the Peoria Park District, serving nearly 130,000 residents, cannot provide the most basic of summer recreation services: an outdoor swimming pool commensurate with the size of the community.
The PPD does have swimming pools. The RiverPlex has a lap pool and a warm water pool used for rehabilitative services. Only members can swim there. Another PPD pool is at the Proctor Center. Proctor’s pool is open Monday through Thursday and features a small splash playground.
The PPD has closed three pools recently: Lakeview Family Aquatic Center (2017); the RiverPlex’s indoor water slide and zero-depth pool (2020); and recently, the Gwynn Family Aquatic Center, for lack of lifeguards. Is there a lifeguard shortage? Communities like Chillicothe, Metamora, Morton, Washington, Bartonville and Pekin have enough lifeguards to staff their pools six or seven days a week.