Freedom Springs Aquatic Park set to open for second season
GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — Memorial Day weekend is traditionally opening weekend for many public pools and Greenwood’s aquatic center is no exception.
At Freedom Springs Aquatic Center new features were added in the off-season.
Last summer was the first season ever for the new water park.
The fall and winter were busy for the park staff, as they reviewed last season’s successes and lessons learned.
Greenwood resident Stephanie Davis is considering a season pass for Freedom Springs this year.
“We loved the park last year,” she said.
She lives about two miles from the water park and enjoyed taking her kids on those hot summer days.
“Even the seating is wonderful,” she said, “We thought we would come here and there wouldn’t be any spots to sit or any chairs, but it was all wonderful, I have nothing but great reviews for it.”
That’s music to the ears of Greenwood’s Parks and Recreation Director Rob Taggart.
He estimates at least 75,000 people came to the park last summer, despite the very rainy season.
“If Mother Nature cooperates, we expect to do equal to what we did last year and of course we always want to do better,” he said.
He’s made some changes for this year to hopefully improve the experience for visitors.
“We’ve got an additional shelter house to replace the sand pit from last year,” he said.
Those are large covered picnic areas that can be rented by the half-day or full-day. Staff also installed another cabana this year. Those can fit about five people and are also able to be rented for a half or full day.
“People loved them last year,” Taggart said. “You get private space, your own furniture, your own shade, so people liked them a lot.”
As far as pool operation,Taggart said communication to the public will be streamlined in case they have to close the park for weather.
“Social media, blasts of emails that need to go out, so we’re definitely going to be able to capture that a little better this year,” he said.
And they have also added new programs and kept some favorites, which makes Davis even more likely to be a return swimmer.
“They also offer a lot of different programs here. I know they had a water aerobics I might be interested in, but with the two young children, we were thinking about the swimming classes,” she said.
The pool opens officially at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Right now the park is selling season passes and if you are a pass holder you can get in 15 minutes early opening day.