O’Fallon prepared for grand opening of aquatic center ... if it doesn’t rain

Because rain and storms are forecast for Friday, the Community Park grand opening celebration may be delayed. Yet the new aquatic center is still on track to open Saturday.

Andrew Dallner, director of parks and recreation, said the city will make the call midday regarding the evening events.

“We are keeping a close eye on the weather this week. We’ll determine whether it’s a go or a no around 11 – 12 o’clock. We don’t want the bands in the rain. We will reschedule everything later in the month,” he said during the parks committee meeting June 9.

The $20 million Community Park upgrades are to be unveiled – the new O’Fallon Aquatic Center, Katy Cavins Community Center and O’Fallon Amphitheater.

“This has been three years in the making and the end is in sight,” he said.

Dallner said a few loose ends are being tied up, such as landscaping. The state inspection was set for this week.

If festivities aren’t cancelled, plans include a ribbon-cutting at 4:30 p.m., with the main events from 5 to 9 p.m. Tours of the facility will be available, the O’Fallon Township High School band will perform, concessions will be open, and a kid’s area near the large pavilion will include bounce houses and yard games. The band Champagne Fixx will entertain at 6:30 p.m.

“We have a lot of fun things planned for adults and kids,” he said.

Aquatic Center Amenities

The city pool was totally rebuilt and enlarged. It had been a fixture in the park since 1959, when the town’s population was about 4,000; today it is over 30,000.

The Aquatic Center includes a leisure pool with zero depth entry, a vortex pool, two slides, a 6-lane competition pool, a Ninja crossing (obstacle course), diving board, concessions, and two family locker rooms.

The pool had physical issues that needed to be repaired and made ADA compliant. Upgrades to the restrooms were necessary.

Over the past 60 years, expectations for outdoor aquatic facilities have changed, with a focus on amenities for adults and children, Dallner said.

The Aquatic Center will be open through Sept. 1, with hours from 1-7 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Starting Aug. 13, the pool will be only open on weekends. It will close early on days with inclement weather, low usage and swim meets.

The pool is the home for the O’Fallon swim team, the Breakers.

Six different types of group swim lessons are offered Monday through Thursday. People can also arrange for one-on-one lessons and Parent ‘n Tot lessons are on Saturday mornings.

Dallner said they have increased lifeguards, hiring 35, which is 15 more than last year. He said they will be able to give more swimming lessons now.

Located at 401 E. Fifth St. along U.S. 50, the Community Park began its metamorphosis last summer. The groundbreaking on the $19.9 million enhancement project happened on April 30, 2024.

Dallner said playground and pool improvements were the two top priority rankings in the Build O’Fallon Trust Fund surveys.

“The Parks Master Plan included replacing the swimming pool, adding space for community gatherings, and more hiking and biking trails,” he said.

Starting two and a half years ago with the All-Abilities Playground, now known as The Playground of Champions, which opened in October 2023, the department has been developing enhancements throughout the city.

The Community Park Phase 1 included a Parks and Rec building, locker rooms, pumphouse, pool, slide, splash pad, and performing arts stage. Phase 2 included a complete overhaul of the Katy Cavins Center, new parking lot, and amphitheater.

Cavins Center

For a recent O’Fallon-Shiloh Chamber of Commerce event, a soft opening for the Cavins Center was attended by about 300 people to rave reviews, Dallner said. The capacity is now 300.

The 97-year-old community center was limited size-wise for events of more than 100-plus people, and among the needs were life-safety, accessibility and building code improvements, not to mention energy efficiency and other operation upgrades.

A gym was constructed, and the center is available to rent for birthday parties, trivia nights, weddings, and other events.

The added indoor athletic space allows summer campers to be inside and active during the hot summer weather. Summer camps opened May 28, and enrollment was 400, Dallner said.

New Trails

A paved lighted multi-use path is ready too – the park trail is .8 miles long and 10 feet wide and winds around the park.

The Metro East Park and Recreation District funded the perimeter trail and amphitheater through their Park & Trail Grant Program. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources supported the Aquatics Center through the OSLAD grant program.

The city recently received a $3 million Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant that will improve connectivity and mobility for sidewalks and a 10-foot-wide shared use path along U.S. Highway, 50 stretching from Community Park to McKendree Rec Plex.

The project was a key priority in the Forward 50 plan, and will bring safe, accessible pathways to a part of town that currently has none.

Entertainment at the Amphitheater

Dallner said music, movies and kids’ shows are among the free activities that will be programmed at the new performing arts stage.

Music in the Park is a new free summer concert series that will kick off on June 18 featuring a variety of local musicians. Six events are planned, with live music starting at 6:30 p.m. and stopping at 8:30 p.m. All you need to do is bring a blanket or chair. Concessions will be available for purchase too.

The free Family Movie Night will debut in its new location on Aug. 1, with “The Garfield Movie” showing at dusk. On Sept. 5, “Sonic the Hedgehog 3” will be shown, and Oct. 3, “Mufasa: The Lion King.” Activities commence at 6:30 p.m. Concessions are available for purchase.

Three kids’ shows will take place on June 17 with Abra-Kid-Abra (magic show), July 24 with Dizzy the Hooper (magic acts, juggling, hula hoop tricks), and Aug. 6, with D.C. Mickan, a ventriloquist. All shows will run from 11-11:45 a.m. and are free to attend. Small snacks and soft drinks will be available at the concessions stand.

For more information, visit https://ofallonparksandrec.com/.

This story was originally published June 12, 2025 at 11:16 AM.