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July 21, 2010
Making a splash
By Mary Beth Almond
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Photo by Andrew Potter |
Families cool down close to
home at local splash parks
By Mary Beth Almond
C & G Staff Writer
Rather than blowing an entire paycheck on a weekend away, families looking to beat the heat a bit closer to home can take a short trip to one of several local splash parks to cool down for a fraction of the cost.
Jeff Linn, assistant park superintendent for Metro Beach Metropark, said keeping cool this summer is as easy as a cost-effective trip to a local park.
“In talking with our park patrons, (we’ve heard) they are taking more day trips closer to home— rather than being gone for a whole weekend Up North. It’s a little more affordable,” he said.
Located between an Olympic-sized swimming pool and a 1,000-foot-long beach on Lake St. Clair, the Squirt Zone at Metro Beach — 31300 Metro Parkway — features heated and chlorinated water spraying out of ground sprays, water cannons, arches and much more. “Some are spraying constantly, and there are some that the user can activate by pushing a button or things like that to turn them on and off themselves,” Linn said.
The park, which is open to the public every day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Labor Day, is normally very busy in the summertime. Linn said it’s certainly the busiest on weekends and has a lot to offer. After paying the $5 daily vehicle entry fee or an annual permit fee of $25 to get into the park, families can use the Squirt Zone and the beach for free, but must pay $3 per person to use the pool and waterslides. For more information, call (586) 463-4581 or visit www. metroparks.com.
Red Oaks Waterpark’s SplashTown in Madison Heights, part of the Oakland County Park system, features the Soak Station water playground for kids, a 990-foot tube lazy river ride, and the Spray ’n Play play zone. The Soak Station has 68 features, including water jets, curtains and slides, plus bubbler jets, and a six-foot tipping bucket, while the Spray ’n Play water play area for toddlers features 15 water jets and bubblers at zero depth. The water park also features a triple flume waterslide and the popular 78-degree wave pool. “Our main feature is our wave pool, which is a zero depth entrance that gets to eight feet deep. The waves are on for 10 minutes and off for 10 minutes. When they are on, it generates just about 3-foot waves,” said Matt Purdy, recreation specialist for Red Oaks. Located at 1455 E. 13 Mile Road, the water park is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays, and from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and holidays through Sept. 7. Admission fees are $8 to $12 for residents and $10 to $16 for nonresidents. Reduced fees are available after 4 p.m. For more information, call (248) 858-0918 www.destination oakland.com.
The new Heritage Park Splash Pad, 24725 Farmington Road in Farmington Hills, opened Memorial Day weekend. Located inside the 211-acre park, the free Splash Pad features timed sprinklers, nozzles and dumping buckets the children can activate with the push of a button during park hours, from dawn to dusk daily. A group picnic shelter, youth playground, two sand volleyball courts, an in-line hockey rink and six horseshoe pits are nearby. For more information, call (248) 871-2400.
Residents of St. Clair Shores and their guests can cool off at the Splash Zone at Veterans Memorial Park, which includes a “kiddie car wash,” pop jets, a tulip jet, a tumble bucket, a foam geyser, and various other features. Parks and Recreation Director Greg Esler said the Splash Zone, open from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. through Labor Day, can accommodate between 60 and 70 children at one time. “With a total area of 3200 square feet, it includes 16 toys, 122 water jets and five buckets. Operated by two motion-activated sensors, the 4,000 gallons of heated water are treated, filtered and pumped up through the reservoir every 30 minutes,” he said.
Esler said the Splash Zone, which opened in 2001, was Macomb County’s first splash park, and it continues to be a popular feature for residents every summer. “In this heat, it’s just been a phenomenal treat for the residents and their guests,” he said. A park pass is required for entry into Veterans Memorial Park. For more information and prices, call (586) 445-5350.
Residents of Grosse Pointe Farms and their guests can visit the free splash playground at Grosse Pointe Farms Pier Park, located at 350 Lakeshore Road. “(We have) a re-circulating system, meaning that we do treat the water just like you would a swimming pool,” said Dick Huhn, director of parks and recreation. Other facilities inside the park include a beach, a large municipal pool and a wading pool. For more information, call (313) 343-2405.
The Warren Community Center, 5460 Arden, features an indoor water park with a play structure in the water complete with a 300-gallon dumping bucket, multiple slides, a zero-entry area and a lazy river. There is also a regular activity pool and a sauna, steam room and whirlpool. A fee of $5 is charged for residents and $10 for nonresidents. The water park is open year-round from 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call (586) 268-8400. The city of Warren also has a small kids fountain and splash area on Van Dyke, across from City Hall.
Those looking for a quick way to beat the summer heat can also visit the outdoor Mall at Partridge Creek, 17420 Hall Road in Clinton Township, which features an interactive 85-foot pop-jet fountain that children can’t help but run through.
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