ANDERSON — The traditional swimming pool is out of style.
According to the World Waterpark Association, municipally-owned waterparks are becoming more and more popular.
Anderson might be adding itself to the list of cities to create a waterpark, Parks Superintendent Fred Reese said at the Parks Board meeting Tuesday evening.
The Parks Board sat through a 20-minute presentation about splashpads, which are aquatic recreation systems with interactive features, from Vortex Splashpads President Bill Smith.
Smith said splashpads have great advantages over pools in that they are easy to manage, cost-effective, safe and wheelchair accessible.
The accessibility for people with disabilities also enables communities to get grants to build splashpads, Smith said.
Cities have also sought corporate sponsorship, Smith said.
That was one route Reese said Anderson was considering.
Depending on the size, infrastructure and features of the splashpad, the price could range from $40,000 to $250,000.
“It enhances the quality of life in a community,” Smith said.
The splashpad also provides interactive entertainment for families and people of all ages and the maintenance costs less than the maintenance of a swimming pool.
Pam Clendenen, who knew Smith from a trade conference, said insurance on splashpads cost less than that on a pool because insurance companies consider them to be playgrounds.
Reese said water park features will be included in the budget for 2009.
The discussion about the water park comes at the same time as the city is announcing that Athletic Park Pool will not open this summer.
Reese said the cost of renovations and repairs plus ongoing maintenance made Athletic Pool too expensive to reopen for the summer. Southside Pool will open, he said.
“We’re working with (the City of Anderson Transit System) to try to work on transportation to Southside,” Reese said. “Given our present state, the consensus among the staff is that it’s probably best to see what we can do with (Athletic Pool) in the future.”
Tamera Doty-Davis, landscape architect for the Parks and Recreation Department, will be working on options for Athletic Pool, Reese said.
Local News
3:45 p.m.: Athletic Pool closed; water park considered
Athletic Park Pool closed this summer
- Local News
-
-
Anderson man dies at Monroe Reservoir; 3 others arrested
Memorial Day weekend took a tragic turn Saturday evening as an Anderson man visiting Monroe Reservoir died. Three other Anderson men were arrested later that day following the death of Matthew Hosier, 29.
-
Getting Together: Silence not golden for this library program
Certain rules govern almost all libraries: be quiet, don’t mar the pages and absolutely no food or drinks on the premises. But a small group of patrons wait until after hours, lock themselves in the back room of the Alexandria-Monroe Public Library, eat popcorn, drink soda and loudly scoff as they watch bad movies.
-
Veteran receiving Bronze Star 68 years late
An Army veteran will be awarded a Bronze Star on Memorial Day — 68 years after he was originally supposed to receive it.
-
Memorial Day activities set
For Memorial Day weekend, here’s a list of activities to participate in.
-
Arrest Log: May 28
Arrests made by Madison County law enforcement on Saturday, based on Madison County Jail records. Charges are recommended by arresting officers, but are not final until the Madison County prosecutor reviews the case and files official charges.
- Conservation officers arrest Anderson boater on alcohol charge
-
What's Where: May 28
Local activities are scheduled Monday.
-
Handicapped murder convict alleges prison discrimination
Since October 2006, Donald Lock has been confined to a wheel chair because of a degenerative bone disease. He has spent time at correctional facilities throughout the state, but it wasn’t until he was transferred to Pendleton earlier this year that he said he felt his disability was ignored.
-
Arrest log: May 27
The following arrest log appears in the Sunday edition of The Herald Bulletin.
-
Parents at Little League say coach took money
Parents of the North Anderson Little League filed a complaint with police against a former coach who they say stole fundraiser money.
- More Local News Headlines
-
