ParkTalk Podcast: Prepping for Beach Season

Friday, March 7, 2025

Episode Description:

It's almost summertime, and the Naperville Park District is preparing the famous Centennial Beach for another year of summer fun. Join Park District Aquatics Manager Brett Sprague, and Park Operations Manager Tiffani Picco, as they discuss the work necessary to get ready for beach season.

Quote from the Episode:

What work needs to be done before the beach opens each year?

Everything really gets rolling in November and December when we start reaching out to last year’s staff and evaluating who is returning. From there we are hosting job fairs in January and are then immediately into hiring season. In March, we begin the beach cleaning process. April brings us to our refill stage which is immediately followed by lifeguard training around May. - Brett Sprague

What is the process of replacing the beach water?

The process in the springtime starts in mid-March when we start draining the beach, and as the water goes down, we’re going to take time and do some pressure washing. We pressure wash the bottom surfaces as well as the walls. We want to make sure everything is good and clean for when we get that clean swimming water back in there. - Tiffani Picco

Why is there so much work for a facility only for a few months?

Centennial Beach is really a landmark in the Naperville Park District and the town, and it strives to uphold the vision of the District: to provide high quality experiences and facilities at a great value to the community. - Brett Sprague

It’s such a popular facility every day. It seems like it doesn’t even matter about the weather, there’s always people ready to come to Centennial Beach, and it’s such a prized asset to our community. - Tiffani Picco