Suburban pool open after legal wrangling

After a legal case in south suburb, companies that specialize in picking up tax-delinquent properties at scavenger sales may want to take a closer look at them.

[Oak Forest Resident]

Interesting, seems like history always comes around to repeat itself!

[really]

there is no hoa but on paper. the peoples names that are in this article and a couple others lost it and now they are using lost tax payers money to drink all day and night at the pool. who pays the wrongful death payments if some gets killed or who gets hurt? why has thus been hidden?

[FAD]

Is this the pool that was owned by the Park District, given to the Homeowners Association? What happened I thought it was still a functioning Home Owners Association Pool? I did go to a few Party events there in my earlier days, it is not that large of a pool or pool area.

[Resident]

As a resident of Oak Forest and the 1st Ward I am happy that the pool is open. I would much rather have a functioning pool that ALL Oak Forest residents can enjoy, then to look at an abandoned concrete hole that brings my property value down. Hurray for Oak Forest and thank you to everyone involved in getting the pool opened again.

[Wayne]

Resident wrote:

As a resident of Oak Forest and the 1st Ward I am happy that the pool is open. I would much rather have a functioning pool that ALL Oak Forest residents can enjoy, then to look at an abandoned concrete hole that brings my property value down. Hurray for Oak Forest and thank you to everyone involved in getting the pool opened again.

Why is the city using funds to run a pool that is really only usable by the Gingerwood Community! Who handles all of the liability associated with this pool? How many employees need to be employed to make sure thsi facility is safe and guarded? What is the capacity for this pool facility? Check out the newspaper issues about the pool in Blue Island, just waiting to happen in "Good Ole Oak Forest".

[Confused]

I am confused Wayne, did you not read the article? It explained everything. And the homeowners association is handling everything the and the pool is open to ALL!

[1st Ward Resident]

I doubt if Wayne even lives in Oak Forest. Oviously he is not interested enough to pay attention to the council meetings. Every question he asked was fully explained tonight. but he would not care, he is only interested in spreading his bull krap on an anonymous blog without any facts to back him up.

PS: Thanks Laura, you are doing a great job.

[Sideliner]

Wayne wrote:

<quoted text>
Why is the city using funds to run a pool that is really only usable by the Gingerwood Community! Who handles all of the liability associated with this pool? How many employees need to be employed to make sure thsi facility is safe and guarded? What is the capacity for this pool facility? Check out the newspaper issues about the pool in Blue Island, just waiting to happen in "Good Ole Oak Forest".

What part of no cost to the city is so hard for you to understand? Are you that ignorant, or just not interested enough to watch a meeting so you know what you are talking about? Do you even know what night the city council meets, or who to contact to get answers ro your dumb questions?

By the way, the pool is open to family's of the entire city. If the city listened to you they would have to shut down every Park District, and city program in town.

[Fun in the Sun]

I cannot tell you how happy my kids are to be swimming at the Gingerwood Pool. It really is a great place to take your kids. It has such a family atmosphere. As I read some of these posts, I am not sure why some people have these negative feelings. You really should come see for yourself. We love it. Thanks to everyone that was involved in reopening the pool!

[really]

what hoa? there is no hoa when you do not hold public meetings! there is no hoa when you do not collect money! there is no hoa when the so called president does not live in the bonderies of the so called hoa! stop the hiding and start telling the truth!

[New]

I just want to say that I am new to this Topix thing. My girlfriend told me that people were writing things about the Gingerwood Pool. It saddens me to see that some of these people don't have a clue as to what they are writing. Why be haters? Some of these people have also posted negative comments on other blogs as well. Let me ask, don't you have anything better to do then to comment about issues that you don't have facts about? Why must you be so bitter? The pool just opened, give it a brake already!!!!

[Sideliner]

really wrote:

what hoa? there is no hoa when you do not hold public meetings! there is no hoa when you do not collect money! there is no hoa when the so called president does not live in the bonderies of the so called hoa! stop the hiding and start telling the truth!

What country are you from? Just exaxtly what language do you speak? go back to wherever you came from, and find the rock you crawled out from under. Maybe you are one of the reasons elected officials give no credit to blogs, and don't read them.

[New2]

My family loves the pool and I thank my lucky stars for Laura Clemons and Hank Kuspa for getting the pool back to Oak Forest. ANYONE can join the pool, you do not have to be in the Gingerwood boundaries (1st Ward. There ara a handful of people who are running this pool and there is NO cost I say it again, NO cost to the city. We are all volunteering our time. There are pool hours SET, there are FEES SET, Rules and Regulations SET and this has is mandatory BY the City! Read the articles in the paper, go to a City Council meeting. Be informed before you start spreading hate. Now I know why I didn't come on this page in the first place.
Please don't be a hater. Do you have little kids.....little kids with special needs? This is a friendly, clean and inexpensive way to keep your children occupied during the summer months. I've had ENOUGH of Chuck E Cheese, McDonalds, Zoos, pools where my kids get kicked in the head and I have to pay high fees to go to. Finally...an inexpensive FUN FILLED summer!

[WOW]

New wrote:

I just want to say that I am new to this Topix thing. My girlfriend told me that people were writing things about the Gingerwood Pool. It saddens me to see that some of these people don't have a clue as to what they are writing. Why be haters? Some of these people have also posted negative comments on other blogs as well. Let me ask, don't you have anything better to do then to comment about issues that you don't have facts about? Why must you be so bitter? The pool just opened, give it a brake already!!!!

Many of us long time citizens know the past history of the pools in this community, so although I think it is great that it is open to the public, it still is to be seen if history will not repeat itself again. Go have a great splash summer!

[ABC]

WOW wrote:

<quoted text>
Many of us long time citizens know the past history of the pools in this community, so although I think it is great that it is open to the public, it still is to be seen if history will not repeat itself again. Go have a great splash summer!

Not sure what you mean about history repeating itself? You mentioned "pools", the only other pool Oak Forest had was El Vista. Please explain what you mean. It is a good thing for Oak Forest. Small pools like this just don't exist any more.

[Wayne]

ABC wrote:

<quoted text>
Not sure what you mean about history repeating itself? You mentioned "pools", the only other pool Oak Forest had was El Vista. Please explain what you mean. It is a good thing for Oak Forest. Small pools like this just don't exist any more.

People that have been in this community for a while know about all the past history of the pools in Oak Forest, thats how I read this. Pools as you might know are a large expense to maintain and have to pass vigourous State/County codes to remain open. If they are inspected and don't pass there may have a large maintenance investment, if the Homeowers Association can handle that and it seems to be what this is saying. The other concern is liability insurance on these community pools, that aspect is not cheap, but again it seems the even though some people have concerns, there is a plan to handle it. Let me get my Speedo and I will meet you in the wading ares!!

[New2]

The Homeowners can handle it by people like you paying to swim daily ($5 a day) along with members paying the member fee. Then with several of us unpaid volunteers willing to spend time there doing maintenance and doing the daily routines...we'll be ok! See you in the wading area Wayne!

[Sideliner]

Wayne wrote:

<quoted text>
People that have been in this community for a while know about all the past history of the pools in Oak Forest, thats how I read this. Pools as you might know are a large expense to maintain and have to pass vigourous State/County codes to remain open. If they are inspected and don't pass there may have a large maintenance investment, if the Homeowers Association can handle that and it seems to be what this is saying. The other concern is liability insurance on these community pools, that aspect is not cheap, but again it seems the even though some people have concerns, there is a plan to handle it. Let me get my Speedo and I will meet you in the wading ares!!

Past history of pools(plural)? There has only been one pool in the history of O.F. bedsides the pool now in question and the original construction on the El Vista Pool was so shoddy it had to be taken down 15 years ago. Once again you play loosly with the facts. The Gingerwood pool was originally well constructed and has many years of use left. Once again the association will take care of all expenses. Case closed.

[ABC]

I have lived in Oak Forest for almost 20 years and I know there has only been one other pool in Oak Forest, that being El Vista. So when you say people living "in this community for a while know about all the past history", you need to get your facts straight. Listen Wayne, don't be such a "Debbie Downer". If you wear a Speedo at the pool, I won't be meeting you anywhere near the "wading area". YUK!!!

[Wayne]

ABC wrote:

I have lived in Oak Forest for almost 20 years and I know there has only been one other pool in Oak Forest, that being El Vista. So when you say people living "in this community for a while know about all the past history", you need to get your facts straight. Listen Wayne, don't be such a "Debbie Downer". If you wear a Speedo at the pool, I won't be meeting you anywhere near the "wading area". YUK!!!

ABC,

I am disappointed we will not be meeting in the wading area, but in all honesty, I am glad that the pool is open and Gingerwood Homeowners Association can staff and manage it to help the community. My only concern is how this administration does everything behind closed doors and there are never any discussions, until it appears on the agendas. That is what all these other folks complained about with the previous administration, but it is Oak Forest it will not change.

Debbie Downer now understands that there are no expenses for the city great, Speedo's out and i be at the wading side!