Big Surf Wave Pool

Small wave pool. Nice waves.
Two diving boards for the calm periods.
Big park and playground nearby.
Concessions (junk food).
No frills here. Rent a raft and relax. Good for the family. Your pool pass is good here and at Meadows Pool.

Disclaimer: I have not come here in about 20 years. But, here’s a review from Danielle’s childhood memory:
This place is awesome. The pool is quite large, has awesome wave activity, and was always one of my favorite places to go in the summer. We lived in the neighborhood just to the West so we would ride our bikes here, or have our moms drop us off.
The little food counter was great — and it was a treat to get a Super Rope after a long day of swimming.
There are chairs to use, rafts for rent, and it’s a great place to bring the kids.

What a fun place and it is reasonable. If you are looking for a fun inexpensive way to spend a summer afternoon head out here. The lifeguards are great too. There was a woman who was having some issues in the water, and the lifeguard didn’t miss a beat and got her to safety. I was really impressed. The changing rooms are minimal but clean, and they have rafts you can rent for $ 5. I will be going back next season.

You COULD spend $ 50 on admission to a mondo-​water park… But if you’re looking for some sun and cool water, Big Surf is a great value. For as little as $ 5.00, you can catch some rays on the deck of this moderate sized pool and enjoy the limited summer Chicago has to offer… And if you’re adventurous enough to head into the water, don’t be caught of guard when the wave cycle starts! It’s a really fun day for kids of all ages, and you can rent large yellow rafts to ride the waves and alternately float peacefully and soak up the UV.
It can be a bit tricky to find the pool, as it is tucked away in a residential neighborhood, but it’s conveniently located near the intersection of Golf and Elmhurst roads, so getting to the neighborhood itself is easy, whether you take local streets or I-​90.
If I know that I’m not going to be riding water slides all day and just want to get out for some R&R, then this is my first choice! If you’re not a fan of laying on concrete, get there early and snag a chair — seating is limited and unfortunately, I’m not the only one that knows about this wonderful summer option!