As temperatures have climbed this summer, locals have done their best to cool off by visiting the area's community pools. 

"It's been pretty busy this summer due to the heat," said Kurt Lindemann, recreation supervisor at the Hinsdale Community Swimming Pool. "We've [also] had very few closings due to rain, so that's a positive." 

Pool pass revenue for the Hinsdale pool is up in 2011. As of July 20, the pool has brought in $195,890, a nearly $14,000 increase over the revenue brought in through the same date in 2010. 

Although the total number of resident family and non-resident family passes were down from last year, sales of the new "nanny pass" has added a total of $4,305 to the pool's revenue this summer. In addition, large increases in both adult guest passes and child guest passes in from 2010 to 2011—$400 to $7,744 and $1,450 to $6,974, respectively—as well as a hike in membership costs brought the total near $200,000 for the first two-and-a-half months of the pool season. 

Aside from pool-pass revenue, daily fees brought in $39,570 through July (up from 2010's $31,122), and revenue from programs such as swim lessons, the town swim team, and pool rentals came out to $84,915 (up from 2010's $75,732). 

The Woods Pool in Burr Ridge has also been busy, but has not been without its downtimes.

"It's really hot, [which may have] scared off people from joining the pool," said Burr Ridge superintendent of recreation Lavonne Campbell. "It's been either empty or really busy due to the heat." 

Campbell will not have specific revenue numbers until the end of the summer, but she said daily attendance and membership are both down in 2011 compared to 2010. Pool rentals are also down from last year.

According to Campbell, 2010 was a "perfect" summer, so just because attendance is down in 2011 doesn't mean it's been a bad year. 

"Last year's weather was so awesome," Campbell said. "It was hot but not as hot as this year and there weren't as many rainy days."

Lindemann also noticed the hit-or-miss attendance pattern on hot days in 2011. 

"To our surprise, during the heat wave people stayed inside," he said.

Hinsdale resident Kimberly Gee said that on the hottest days her first choice is to stay home.

"But when the kids start driving me nuts, it's great to have the Hinsdale pool," she said.

Gee, who has been a pool member for three years and comes to the pool at least four times each week with her children for swim lessons, appreciates the pool's atmosphere.

"I like the pool's environment and serene surroundings," she said, adding that the option to use the swimming lane for early morning exercise is another bonus. 

Another Hinsdale resident, Nerida Thomas, has taken advantage of the pool's daily rate for non-members who live in town. Because Thomas has been in Australia for much of the summer, she has only visited the pool twice, but appreciates that she can bring her two children to the pool on any given day.

"[The weather has] been steaming and horrible this summer," Thomas said, "and I like that there are lifeguards here to watch over the kids. We don't have that in Australia." 

Lindemann is optimistic that the pool season will finish out strong now that the worst of the heat wave seems to be over.

"The past two years have been busier than the years before," he said. "This is the first day of August and it's hot and humid, so [hopefully] it'll be more of the same."