New water park rules OK’d

Portland Water Park will have some new rules next year.

Portland Park Board approved a new water park policy during a meeting Tuesday. It also looked at the water park’s finances and repair needs.

Board president Brian Ison shared a list of items he compiled for the new policy, which draws influence from rules at Marion Splash House.

All children younger than 13 visiting Portland Water Park must be accompanied by an adult. Drugs, alcohol, tobacco, vapes and weapons are not allowed, and neither are glass containers, chewing gum, sunflower seeds or animals. Outside coolers and food are allowed outside of the pool deck, the policy says.

Bags will be searched before entering the park. If pool visitors refuse to comply, they won’t be allowed inside.

The policy also stipulates Portland Water Park may close because of low attendance, bad weather or other issues. Refunds or rain checks will not be offered because of inclement weather. (Following a suggestion from parks department employee Matt Shauver, the pool’s water temperature must measure at least 65 degrees in order to open.)

During discussion, board members also talked about a rule that all bags brought to the water park must be transparent but ultimately decided against implementing that rule.

Reviewing the water park’s revenue and expenses, park board members compared profit and loss ratios for the current year against previous years. This year’s losses came in at $94,416.50, compared to $49,560.97 in 2020.

Street and parks department superintendent Tom Leonhard pointed out a chunk of expenses will be removed from next year’s budget because of the pool’s change to liquid chlorine, noting the old chemicals cost around $26,000 and this year’s price for liquid chlorine came in at $13,900. (Plans are to sell the old chemicals to Jay County High School for use in its pool.)

Leonhard added water park wages also came in at $18,941 more than anticipated because the budget was set before the payroll ordinance was put in place. Income from admission and rental fees significantly decreased this year as well.

Board member Shauna Runkle questioned if Jay County Summer Swim Team members paid for their summer passes per usual, noting the water park sold 170 passes this year.

Ison suggested the board could look at offering fewer open hours, operating with less staff — at least eight lifeguards need to be manning the pool per law — or increasing admission fees again. Park board member Michael Brewster suggested setting a minimum number of pool visitors needed to keep the water park open after a certain time each day.

The motor in the pool’s main filtration pump is out, explained Shauver, noting he couldn’t get a price estimate for the repair cost without opening the machine. He shared plans to transport the pump to Indianapolis to find out what the cost will be. 

Shauver also noted the pool has been prepared for winter with the exception of the concession stand. He pointed out some tiles that have popped off and explained Blakely’s should make the repairs sometime this fall. 

In other business, park board members John McFarland, Jennifer Weitzel, Ison, Brewster and Runkle:

•Heard the rubber surface under the “swing of faith” handicapped swing at Hudson Family Park is cracked. Shauver noted that after various shipping delays because of the coronavirus pandemic, the repair product has arrived. Plans are to repair portions of the playground soon, likely this weekend, he said.

•Learned the new water fountain for Hudson Family Park is expected to be delivered in four to six weeks. Donated by The Goodrich Foundation in honor of John and Sarona Goodrich, it will include a conventional drinking fountain, a water bottle filler and a fountain at ground level for pets.

•Were informed it will cost $800 to purchase and install two cameras from NuWave Technology to face the registers at Portland Water Park.

•Heard Coppersmith Electric is finishing up installing electrical wiring from Hudson Family Park Amphitheater to the east gazebo.

••••••••••

For additional park board news, see Friday’s newspaper.