Water park ready to open

The pool is ready to open in two weeks. 

Portland Park Board at its meeting Tuesday heard an update about the work that’s been completed at Portland Water Park over the past month.

It also approved the installation of a roof for the amphitheater at Hudson Family Park. 

Matt Shauver, a street and parks department employee, told the board the tiling work in the pool has been completed and the water is chemically balanced. Fifty-four new pool chairs that the board ordered in March have arrived too. 

Two cameras have been put in place, one facing the grassy area and the other the parking lot. Shauver, parks superintendent Tom Leonhard, pool manager Missy Bader, Portland Police Department and the lifeguards on duty will all be able to monitor the cameras, intended to prevent teenagers from fighting or causing trouble. 

Yet to be installed are a sign at the intersection of Hayes and 1st streets to welcome visitors to the water park and a vinyl wrap on one of the beams connecting the concession stand to the restroom. The sign should help drivers from accidentally continuing straight into the pool parking lot, and the wrap will cover up rusted and blistered paint on the beam. The vinyl will say “Portland Water Park” and will have a decorative design. 

At its April meeting, the board decided to have reduced hours the first week and a half the pool is open to accommodate Jay School Corporation’s extended schedule. Students will be in school until June 5 and many of the life guards are in high school, so the pool will be understaffed and have fewer visitors. 

The pool, which will open Memorial Day weekend, will have evening hours from 4 to 7 p.m. on weekdays with a reduced admission cost until school is out and dependent on lifeguard availability. 

Also on Tuesday, the board selected a quote from Goodhew Roofing & Metals to install a metal standing seam roof on the Hudson Family Park amphitheater. 

The back wall of the amphitheater was added to the structure after the rest of it was constructed, and the roof does not cover it completely. When it rains, the water runs down the wall and collects at the back of the amphitheater. 

Goodhew proposed extending the roof and adding a gutter to help the rain flow to the pond. The board selected its bid of $17,500 for the project. Hatzell Brothers bid $14,900 for the project but did not include a gutter in its bid. 

In other business, board members Rod Ashman, Chris Compton and Shauna Runkle, absent Giles Laux: 

•Heard that water has been turned on at all the city’s parks for the summer and the floor at the Haynes Park men’s restroom has been repainted. 

•Were informed that Maddie Strausburg and Joseph Bailey have been hired as park employees for the summer. 

•Thanked Asbury United Methodist Church for cleaning up the city’s parks on May 5.