Mike Lynch, aquatics director for the Emporia Recreation Commission, is looking for input from the public about possible additions to the Jones Aquatic Center.
“We’re looking at adding some kind of new amenity,” Lynch said. “Some of the things we’ve been talking about are maybe an expansion of the wading pool, possibly a kiddie spray park, maybe a dump slide or some kind of a speed slide, something like that. We’re also looking at maybe adding a climbing wall or expanding the lazy river.”
Lynch said the center is looking to expand in order to draw more people, and to provide more choices for the community.
“Aquatic centers all around the state have some more attractions and things than we do,” Lynch said. “Obviously, if you want to increase the people coming out there, you want to get some more attractions and things. We’re just trying to draw more people.”
Lynch said the numbers for this summer were up quite a bit from last summer. “We had a lot better weather and things like that that contributed” to the uptick in attendance. Lynch also said the Clint Bowyer promotion helped draw people in.
Bowyer brought the possibility of free swimming for many. From July 27 until the end of the season, courtesy of Bowyer, the aquatic center offered free admission for children 16 and under, and for adults with children under 6.
Total attendance for the 2007 season was 11,771, with an adult count of 5,016 and a youth count of 6,755. For the 2008 season, adult attendance was 7,168 and youth attendance was 9,336, for a total attendance of 17,504, an increase of 5,733.
Right now, Lynch is just looking for ideas on what the community might like to see at the aquatic center. “I’d like to present something to the (recreation) board to get new attractions,” Lynch said, “but right now this is just for informational purposes. We’re just trying to see what the public wants to see out there. So nothing’s set in stone or anything, but we’d like to try to get something and we’d like the public’s input.”
The aquatic center was built in 2001 to replace the Peter Pan Pool, which dated to 1927. The center cost $5.6 million to build, which included $2 million from the Jones Trust Fund.
The center currently features two slides, a lazy river, a main pool with zero-depth entry level, and a water playground.
Happiness08 (anonymous) says...
I have been there several times, and the lazy river is always crowded. I would like to see it expanded, as well as a kiddy spray park.
October 17, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
hickory (anonymous) says...
How about finishing the project first. What is there....1 or 2 light poles that were never put up out front, because of lack of money?
October 17, 2008 at 4:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
We are already millions of dollars in debt. I guess this makes me a naysayer AGAIN, but when we can afford such luxuries, then I would agree. Until then, the east side of town is a mess and needs some attention. Even one block of sidewalk here and there would help.
October 17, 2008 at 4:54 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
“Aquatic centers all around the state have some more attractions and things than we do,” Lynch said.
Here we go again, worrying about "keeping up with the Jones's"
Let's not worry about being sensible, just worry about keeping up with what everyone else has. Image is everything in this town.
October 17, 2008 at 6:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisterO (anonymous) says...
If the goal really is to increase attendance, I would suggest some sort of shuttle or public transportation to get kids there. Have a couple buses drive up South Avenue, 6th, 12th and 18th Streets twice a day on weekends (once in the morning to bring them out and once in the evening to bring them home).
More features might sound cool but if kids can't get there, it's not likely to help increase attendance.
Maybe the Emporians for Drug Awareness can use some of that grant money to help offset the costs of transportation.
October 17, 2008 at 7:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Free4all (anonymous) says...
Its not the reason of not having enough that keeps us from going there, its location, location, location. It should have been kept in town and we would not be having this discussion.
October 17, 2008 at 8:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
I agree,some sort of shuttle or public transportation to get kids there is what is needed, NOT more stuff! I always have to laugh at these "highly educated" people who have no common sense. Anybody ever look at the skate board park on south ave? it's always full on weeknights and weekends and it's tiny compared to the swimming park, Lets expand it instead, at least it would be used.
October 18, 2008 at 9:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
LifeGoesOn (anonymous) says...
Oh wait, I forgot the skateboard park is south of the tracks, god forbid the city ever do anything there!
October 18, 2008 at 9:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
paulkersey (anonymous) says...
Of course no one goes there, its in the middle of nowhere! Peter Pan was such a great part of this community because kids could ride their bikes there/ it wasn't an out of the way place for parents. I remember when this was being proposed, the argument was made that it would keep people in Emporia instead of going to Burlington. The reason Burlington's pool is so great is that its in the middle of town! This thing is at LEAST 3/4 mile outside the city limits. Its crazy! It sure was nice of Clint Bowyer to bail it out this year!
October 18, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
we went to peter pan park yesterday and parked cars were lined along both sides of the street the full length of the park we had to park by the school. the picnic tables were being used for a get together . since the playground was built, its been a busy park and it would be a great place for a pool or another attraction. the park is easy to get to and there is always someone for the kids to play with and plenty of room to go exploring along the creek. if money is going to be spent, it should be spent on something that will be used alot, not another slipper slide at the pool.
October 19, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
UsayULoveGod (anonymous) says...
Close it down and rebuld it at peter Pan where it should have been built. I was appalled that it was built there , no matter what you add , the attendance will be low, the person who decided to build forgot all of thier common sense , you built it for the people on the westside and a lot of those people already have a pool or have a friend with a pool . It should have been built in the heart of EMPORIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 19, 2008 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
flexj66801 (anonymous) says...
Its nice to see that there are people in Emporia with common sense. When the idea of the aquatic park was being kicked around & the new location was brought up I wondered why that location was being considered. I thought for sure it would be rebuilt in the old location of possibly somewhere else still in the central area of town. For the life of me I couldn't understand why you would build something that is intended mostly for kids that is to far & in some cases to dangerous for them to travel to. I remember as a kid we rode our bicycles to Peter Pan swimming pool from all over the city. Kids could walk there, & it wasn't out of the way for parents to drop their kids off. Attendance at that location was always good all the way up until it closed. The powers that be in this town have long thought that Emporia needs to lure people from other areas & that was one of the reasons given for putting it next to the Pike. I wonder how many people have gotten off the pike or returned to Emporia just to take a swim there?! Another reason was to send a message to people traveling down the pike that "WOW, Look at that!! Emporia must be doing great, They built that nice new aquatic center". We were also told that Peter Pan was not "centralized" in the city, Although neither is the new location. These were from our former City Manager, Mr. Commons. Of course most of the locals ask what kind of ignorance it takes to build something so expensive designed for kids out of their reach & in an area that there are many personal backyard pools.
Does anyone else feel like the "spend spend attitude" is alive & well in our lovely town. Weren't there budget cuts this year? I wonder if some of those cuts could have actually made a difference in our city . I'm sure there were some good things that got done, but I still wonder why country club heights area streets were redone when they weren't nearly as bad as many other streets south of 15th & heaven forbid south of the tracks. But here we are talking about expanding the already failing aqua park during a bad economic time.
Someone is again or still asleep at the wheel.
October 19, 2008 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisterO (anonymous) says...
If we have money to spend, you know what I'd love to see? I would love to see a hiking/biking path from Peter Pan Park along the river to Soden's Grove and beyond. Maybe going down as far a Weaver Street and then back along Logan.
Sure the city couldn't make money off it, but wouldn't it be great to have a nice scenic path to walk or bicycle along.
They've already started a path along South Avenue, so expanding it along this greenway would be nice.
October 19, 2008 at 1:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USNretired (anonymous) says...
Take the soccer field and turn it into a family fun park. Find something that will generate money and give people some incentive to make the trip beyond the pool.
October 19, 2008 at 4:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
neighbor (anonymous) says...
When we are being told that there are budget shortfalls, and the pool is having a hard time paying the bills, I'd have to say throwing more money into the mix would be irresponsible and senseless. I agree that transportation to the pool would be a good idea, but again, who would pay for it? As for where the new pool was built, I agree that it is off the beaten path and other locations should have been considered. I can't help but chuckle at the claim that it should not have been put on NW side of town where most have private pool access. I also disagree that the best place was at Peter Pan Park, where it was some distance away from kids from other parts of the city.
October 19, 2008 at 9:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nks (anonymous) says...
I thought they tried a shuttle service the first couple of years but it was shut down because of lack of interest?
October 20, 2008 at 12:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
howcanihelp (anonymous) says...
Public transportation was tried before and there were very few people who took advantage. I think everyone needs to read the article. The article said this is for information puposes. There was no mentioning of where or how they would get the money or if this is even a possibility. I like the fact that people are trying new ideas rather than just griping about past decisions. I also like the fact that they want our oppinion. I believe we have the power to influence decisions.
Adding a new feature may not be the best idea, but it is atleast a new idea. Earlier in the summer(before the Clint Bowyer Promo) I read that the Pool was having a good season. There may be a possiblity they are trying to bring in new people, which in turn generates more money for the city of Emporia. I know that is what I want. The pool is stuck where it's at. Instead of dwelling on the bad location, lets move on.
If the funding was available, I think people would more use out of a kiddie spraypark. I was out there on a couple of busy weekends and the small children had nowhere to go but the Zero Depth area, which was very crowded.
October 20, 2008 at 2:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MisterO (anonymous) says...
I wasn't aware that public transportation was tried previously. It's a shame it didn't work.
I agree that "griping" about past decisions won't change attendance numbers, but ignoring the very likely possibility that the location is the very reason attendance is low won't solve anything either.
I think everyone did a good job reading the article, but I think most people responding agree that adding new features isn't the answer. You might get a temporary increase by curious people wanting to see the new feature, but it's not a long-term, real solution.
There is no safe way for children to get there. Period. No WAY I'd let my kids walk or bicycle across the I-35 Overpass on Industrial Road. Same with Prairie Street. Although there is a nice walkway over I-35 along Prairie Street, the rest of the route is just too dangerous to allow my kids to walk or bicycle (and now you have to figure the additional traffic with the Lowes development, too!). Then you have 18 th Street from the Roundabout to the Waterpark. No way my kids are going to walk or bicycle that route either.
In my opinion, kids either have to get a ride to the water park or they risk getting killed trying to walk or bicycle there. Change that and *maybe* you can increase attendance.
October 20, 2008 at 6:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
howcanihelp (anonymous) says...
It is amazing that someone brought up the fact that the bridge is unsafe. The plan to fix that is already in the works as well. I believe they might get started on that as early as 2009. That might make trying to get to the pool, TRYSA, and Par for the Course kind of interesting, but it is something that needs to be done and I believe has been in the plans since they built the pool. I also discovered that William Alan White donated the land for Peter Pan Park. If a water park was built in the park the city could not charge the public a dime for going. That would mean we would have to fund everything on a yearly basis for the pool. Don't see that happening.
October 30, 2008 at 9:23 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )