When life gives you lemons...

In the late spring, big rainfalls saturated the ground and, unexpectedly, forced the outer north wall of the Wilmette Tennis Club to collapse, causing extensive damage. As the repairs were underway, there was a concern over how to keep the construction site separate from the outdoor pools which were slated to open soon. With a mere eight feet between the two spaces, a barrier wall was constructed—12 vinyl panels, 156 feet wide x 8 feet tall. But what to put on those 12 panels? Inspiration came from a family of penguins who first appeared on a winter poster promoting summer camps. It seemed only appropriate to release those eager penguins to the pool and give them what they craved most—summer. The frolicking Park District penguins proved to be so popular (not just for pool selfies) that numerous patrons asked if the wall and those penguins could come back for the next season.