Shawnee Splash To Open May 21 With 100 Percent Capacity, Lifted COVID-19 Restrictions
by David Dinsmore
T
his year, Shawnee Splash will be ready to party like it’s 2019 when it opens the gates on May 21. Officials with the city’s water park announced at the end of April that Shawnee Splash would operate as it has in the past without many of the restrictions put in place last summer as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The park also planned to have some of these in guidelines in place for this summer as well with information about the changes listed along with its operating details. The plan now, however, is to open with 100 percent capacity said Kerri Foster, recreation manager with the City of Shawnee. Cleaning and safety breaks will still be a focus as they are every year, but they will not be as frequent as last year. There will also not be such stringent and separate entry and exit procedures. The decision came after examining the plans of similar water parks around the state, restrictions lifting locally and communities around the country and recent guidelines released by health officials as vaccinations increase and infections rates decrease or plateau. Shawnee Splash will keep one element from last year’s guidelines aimed at regulating the number of patrons at the park will remain as a perk for those with season memberships, Foster said. Last year, members could access the park during its first hour from noon to 1 p.m. before the general public came to play, and amid all of the other changes last year, that particular one received a lot of positive feedback. Given the timing of the decision to forego the restrictions for this season along with other challenges stemming from the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, some regular programs that occur throughout the summer will not happen this year, but the following special days will happen: • May 22 – Glow Dance Party – Avedis Health Week • May 27 – Water Safety Night –
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www.shawneeoutlook.com
Shawnee Splash put measures in place last year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, but following the example of similar facilities and easing restrictions around the state and country, the water park will welcome guests at 100 percent capacity and fewer pandemic-related restrictions starting May 21.
Avedis Health Week • June 4 – Good Grade Entry Day • June 6 – Moms Day • June 15 – Teacher Appreciation Day • June 20 – Dads Day • July 2 – Teen Night • July 16 – Disney Day • July 25 – Christmas in July • Aug. 1 – Grandparents Day • Aug. 6 – End of Summer Teen Night • Aug. 9 – Shark Week Kickoff Day Also, Wednesdays will feature Rep You School at the Pool with each week dedicated to a different school in Pottawatomie County, Foster said.. Students who come to Shawnee Splash rocking a T-shirt or other gear from the school of the week will get a discount on admission. Though the more staunch restric-
tions from last year may not be present, swimmers at Shawnee Splash will still be subject to the park’s normal rules, including no outside food or drinks, patrons required to wear swimsuits (no street clothes or underwear), no tobacco use at Splash or the surrounding Woodland Park surrounding it, no re-entry except season members, children under 12 needing adult accompaniment and a 48-inch height limit to ride slides alone
Children 17 years old and younger will still need to exit the pools for 15 minute safety breaks at the top of every hour, and the park will still close for lightning activity within 10 miles of the park in increments of 30 minutes after last activity. On its website, Shawnee Splash also listed that patrons can bring lawn chairs into the park for use. “We’re ready to party and have a great summer,” Foster said.
