NORFOLK, NE -
After the last few days everyone in Siouxland knows firsthand how the dog days of summer really feel, but folks in Norfolk have a brand new way to beat the heat.
It's the AquaVenture Water Park, and the name says it all.
"We've been waiting for it," said Dick Dungan, a Norfolk Nebraska grandpa, who was with his grand kids at the water park Friday. "I mean we've been going to Fremont three or four years ago, we went to Columbus the last few years, it's great to have it here in town."
After three years of design and construction the focus was to make this aquatic adventure suitable for everyone in the family with two pools, a wave pool, a play area complete with octopus, even two water slides.
"What's unique about our raft slide is that is has iridescent bands in it that makes it kind of change colors as you go down, and we're the only water park in the Midwest with that," said Lisa Peters, an Aquatics Manager at AquaVenture.
Those new amenities call for more staff, now at more than 90. There were only 35 this time last year.
It's a big change from the 1970's box style pool that was here.
"It was losing water, you know, it served its purpose but now it's fun to have this one," said Peters.
It's a new aquatic adventure that's not only fun for the kids, but for grandparents, too.
"If we can get a grandma and grandpa pass we'll probably be here more often," said Dungan. "Because we've got two more grandsons coming from Lincoln to spend time with us."
To go along with the new AquaVenture water park, Norfolk's memorial football and baseball fields were also upgraded.
If you want to check everything out, there'll be a grand opening ceremony June 30th at 9:00 AM.
