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North Berwyn Park District Commissioner Ann Macklin has been pushing for renovations to Maple Pool since she helped found the park district in 1976.
With those renovations finally slated to take place this summer, the district also voted tonight to rename the pool after Mackin.
The new facility will feature a revamped pool, a zero-depth spray park and water slide to complement a playground and skatepark already in place. The recreation area will be known as the Mackin Aquatic Center.
The park district took over control of Maple and Cuyler pools from the city last year in exchange for parkland near Cermak Road that has been turned into parking spaces for the Berwyn Gateway Plaza at the northeast corner of Cermak Road and Harlem Avenue. They will use a grant from the State of Illinois for the majority of the construction costs.
North Berwyn Park District Executive Director Joe Vallez also said that the district has applied for a new KaBOOM! Playground to be built on the site.
Mackin, who was unaware of the plan to name the park after her, sat in stunned silence as a green and gold sign that will go in front of the park with her name on it was unveiled.
“I'm speechless,” she said, before quipping, “I'll have to start knitting my bikini.”
A bevy of city officials were also on hand to congratulate Mackin for her decades of service to recreation on the north side of the city.
“I think that this is a great tribute to one of the founders of the North Berwyn Park District. You've been here, you've staid with it, and you've done a tremendous job,” said Mayor Robert Lovero. “It's a tremendous tribute to Ann Mackin, a great lady in this community.”
North Berwyn Park District Commissioner Ann Macklin has been pushing for renovations to Maple Pool since she helped found the park district in 1976.
With those renovations finally slated to take place this summer, the district also voted tonight to rename the pool after Mackin.
The new facility will feature a revamped pool, a zero-depth spray park and water slide to complement a playground and skatepark already in place. The recreation area will be known as the Mackin Aquatic Center.
The park district took over control of Maple and Cuyler pools from the city last year in exchange for parkland near Cermak Road that has been turned into parking spaces for the Berwyn Gateway Plaza at the northeast corner of Cermak Road and Harlem Avenue. They will use a grant from the State of Illinois for the majority of the construction costs.
North Berwyn Park District Executive Director Joe Vallez also said that the district has applied for a new KaBOOM! Playground to be built on the site.
Mackin, who was unaware of the plan to name the park after her, sat in stunned silence as a green and gold sign that will go in front of the park with her name on it was unveiled.
“I'm speechless,” she said, before quipping, “I'll have to start knitting my bikini.”
A bevy of city officials were also on hand to congratulate Mackin for her decades of service to recreation on the north side of the city.
“I think that this is a great tribute to one of the founders of the North Berwyn Park District. You've been here, you've staid with it, and you've done a tremendous job,” said Mayor Robert Lovero. “It's a tremendous tribute to Ann Mackin, a great lady in this community.”
