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About A Dozen Chicago Pools Still Closed For Repairs

CHICAGO (CBS) -- This is the first day for the Chicago Park District's outdoor pools, and while most of them are open, a dozen are still under construction.

The park district has to replace drains on all its pools, two years after new safety rules were imposed by the state.

They looked hot, people walking to the neighborhood pool on opening day.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Mike Krauser Reports

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LIST: Chicago Park District Pools

After the last day of school, kids arrived to the pool at Pulaski Park pool, 1419 W. Blackhawk St. only to find it empty--except for construction debris.

"It's really hot and we expected to go swimming," said one youngster.

It's not just the kids who were bummed out. Adults said the park district dropped the ball.

"They waited until the last six to eight months of a two-year deadline," said one parent.

Ellen Sargent, who is in charge of a state-mandated drain replacement project and upgrade to the 74 pools in the Chicago Park District, says workers uncovered additional problems.

"We kind of did everything at once so that we wouldn't have to be doing this again next year," she said.

Park district officials hope to have all pools open in about a week or two.

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