Rogers’ New Pool Opens

Northwest Arkansas Fill Aquatic Center Saturday

FILE PHOTO
The view from the Tree Top Drop at the Rogers Aquatic Center.
FILE PHOTO The view from the Tree Top Drop at the Rogers Aquatic Center.

ROGERS — Blue skies and short lines greeted people who showed up for the opening day of the Rogers Aquatic Center on Saturday. Temperatures hovered in the upper 70s and low 80s as Northwest Arkansas residents took to the multiple pools and play areas for the first time.

People gathered in four lines to purchase passes on the last day they were half price, while others waited just before 11 a.m. for the first punch in their cards.

At A Glance

Bentonville Pool

The Melvin Ford Aquatic Center opens at noon Monday. The pool is at 401 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway. Season passes are $30 for adults and $25 for children. Daily admission is $1.50 for adults and $1.25 for children.

SOURCE: Staff Report

Eager swimmers streamed into the water park as the gates opened at 11 a.m., with several local police officers and firefighters standing guard to make sure the opening went off in orderly fashion.

Mary Beth Carter, supervisor of admissions for the Aquatic Center, said they opened two additional credit card lines to help speed entry.

“We’re expecting a good turnout today,” she said. “We wanted to make sure everything went OK.”

Hailey Shaw of Rogers hung out near a kids area with her son, Kylan, 3. She said she plans to visit the center often.

“It’s awesome,” Shaw said. “I’m so happy that they have this here now. We’ll probably be back every weekend.”

Three teen girls floated on inner tubes through the lazy river, soaking up the early summer sun. Adventurous souls lined up for the twisty flume slides and vertical speed slides.

Toddlers splashed around in the kiddie pools, squealing as they were sprayed with water from nearby spouts and drenched by a tilting bucket.

There was some concern among parks officials the pool would have to turn away visitors. The center has an occupancy limit of about 1,300, according to Barney Hayes, parks director. Thousands of half-price, 10-punch passes were sold by opening day.

Carter said lines were out into the parking lot in previous days as people snapped up the deal. The half-price passes sold for $42.50 instead of the $85 regular price. Regular admission price is $12 for Rogers residents and $8 for children. Non-residents pay $15 for adults and $10 for children.

“Lines have been crazy. We’ve sold way more in passes than we have occupancy,” Carter said. “It’s a great deal.”

The city made more than $220,000 in the half-price sale between May 11 and Friday afternoon. Parks staff expected that number would increase as more tickets were sold Saturday, the last day of the half-price sale.

One Rogers woman stood in line with her two children Saturday to purchase tickets. They weren’t staying to swim, but she said she wanted to be sure she got in on the deal.

The occupancy fears hadn’t come to fruition as of Saturday afternoon. Chairs and cabanas were full, but staff didn’t have to turn away any visitors.

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