P.L.
Hey S.!
Yay swimming! I grew up in Lakeview and we went swimming at Gill Park. It is free (the only thing I can afford), clean, and I think there is a small parking lot on the west side of the building.
You can also check on the Chicago Park District website. The link is www.chicagoparkdistrict.com and you can navigate from there. Or the direct lint to the list of parks with pools, their addresses, phone numbers, and and the schedules is http://www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/resources/pool_schedul.... I do recommend calling the park to make sure the pool will be open and the schedule posted online is accurate. There is nothing worse than getting a kid all hyped for swimming only to find the pool is closed for cleaning. Also ask about age limits and other stuff.
If you are looking for swim lessons, Wright College has a fabulous program that I highly recommend. They have lessons for all ages, they are more affordable than the YMCA lessons, follow the Red Cross guidelines, I like them better than the park district's lessons, the facilities are clean, and plenty of parking.
Happy swimming!
P.