By COLE REIF
Great Bend Post
The pool season comes to a close Sunday, Aug. 9 at the Wetlands Waterpark in Great Bend.
Due to COVID-19 and early guideline restrictions, the pool season had a later start date but it still gave children and adults a chance to cool off.
Great Bend Recreation Commission Aquatics
Director Megan Hammeke says while attendance numbers were not as high this
year, the pool did see a variety of different attendees make use of the
facility.
"We still had a regular stream of people come in each day," said Hammeke. "We are one of the only pools open in the area. We did see an influx of people from Ellinwood and Larned come use our pool."
The Wetlands Waterpark made several changes to their operation this year
because of coronavirus. Lounge chairs were not available as the public was
encouraged to bring their own chairs. The waterpark also had a person on staff
each day that was a designated cleaner that went around the facility every 30
minutes to disinfect high-touch surfaces such as picnic tables, door handles,
drinking fountains, trash can lids and ladders/railings going into the pool.
"We did have to close the tunnel on our feature where the big bucket drops water," said Hammeke. "None of the chlorine water goes into the tunnel, so there is no way to safely sanitize it after each person goes up there."
The Wetlands Waterpark was open seven days a week from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
since June 15.
Following the last day for the public this Sunday, the pool season will officially wrap up with Bark at the Waterpark Aug. 15 from 10 a.m. to noon. The community is invited to bring their dogs so their pets can swim around in the pool. A $5 per dog fee will benefit the Great Bend Dog Park.