Bohn Pool wins High marks on Sliding Scale - Dan Rodgerson

Lenawee

By Roger Ferguson

Daily Telegram Staff writer

Adrian- the 80 degree temperatures have finally arrived and Adrian City Officials are hoping that will usher in heavy use of the new $115,000 waterslide at Bohn Pool in Riverside Park.

The waterslide opened for private parties Tuesday and received lots of use before it opend for the public during the weekend. So, from those in the know, "How fun it is?"

On a scale of one to 10 a group of Drager Middle school students would give the slide about a nine.

"Its really cool" said Cynthia Reyana. 15 The large blue slide stands 20 feet in the air and winds 140 feet through three curves before it dumps water enthuiasts into a cool pool waiting below. Standing at the top of the slide for the first time is a bit intimidating said Andrea Hernandez 15. "when you first go on it, its scary but it's really fun. Drager rented the pool Thursday and brought more than 100 students to give the slide a thourough test run.

"When you go down it, it's fun because you spin sideways" said John Elkins, 13 Elkins was off to take another round on the side when Mandy Stormes 14 claridied what he meant. "If you turn to one side on the last turn, youll flip over" she said.

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Adrian's New Pool Attraction may end slide in attendance Adrian MI Dan Rodgerson

Kelly Lecker
Blade Staff Writer

Adrian- The 90 youngsters who stood at the enterance of Bohn pool yesterday afternoon waiting for the gates to open were not interested in the bright orange slides along one side of the pool. the didn't want to dive over the edge of the rectangular pool or use the basketball hoop that sat in the water. The childrens sights were sent on the bright blue twisting 144 linear foot slide that now towers over the area. the squealing youngsters saw the slide as a new source of excitement, a chance to catch a fast ride into a pool of clear water.

Managers of the pool hope the slide wich cost the city more than $100,000 will help them battle back from the years of operating in the red.

"It was high time we do somethin gto bring the deficit down" said pool manager Dan rodgerson. "we needed a big attraction to bring people down here."

The City owned pool has lost an average of $70,000 per year during the past 5 years. Adrian officials conducted a study find out what city pool can do to attract visitors and raise more money.
"People are expecting more out of city pools" Rodgerson said. the rectangular, concrete pool is a thing of the past" The city settled on a 99,000 slide for Bohn Pool. Installation and other work added $8,000 to that cost. "That was by far the most attractive" added Rodgerson

Three sets of metal stairs lead up to the slide deck which is 20 feet off the ground. Riders go through a series of twists and turns before landing in the pool.

City officials hope increased attendance will help them pay for the slide by July and help the city break even on the cost of running the pool. Admission is $2.25 for children and $2.75 for adults.

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Students Slide Into summer Adrian MI Dan Rodgerson

Adrian Telegram

Citys new toy is all wet.

Sarah Sharp, a 13 year olf 7th grader from Springbrook Middle school is all smiles after coming down the water slide at Bohn Pool Thursday. Sharp and fellow Springbrook and Drager Middle School students took advantage of the sun during their endof the year party at riverside Park. the trip to Bohn Pool offered students their first rides down the dcitys new water slide which hurles swimmers down a 144 foot long ride. Swimming wasn't the only even on the agenda, though Drager Middle School 6th grade students cheered at their schools year end day.

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Water Slide event goers expected to make a splash Adrian MI - Dan Rodgerson

By Roger Ferguson

Daily Telegram Staff Writer

Adrian- The Bohn pool waterslide is already open to the delight of area younsters, but Adrain Community services will hold a "slide into summer party" on Saturday to build more excitement in the community.

"It really is just to bring attention to the slide" said Daniel Rodgerson of Community Services. "Not hat we need that much attention down there. We've bee swamped. It has far exceeded our expectations"

Saturday's variety of events will kick off at 9:30am with the Citys first ever Iron Kids Triathlon at Burr Ponds. Leaving at age specific intervals, kids will run to Riverside Park, swim some laps in the pool and ride their bikes or in-line skate around the park to the finish line. Though the registration deadline has passed for the tri, kids 14 and under can still register though Friday by calling 263 2161. Cost is $5 plus a $3 late fee. The registration fee includes T-shirts for all participants.

Following the tri, community services will begin a series of six events in and around Bohn Pool during it's two sessions. Doors open at the pool at 11:30 and the first 100 people will recieve free hot dogs. At noon the first 200 swimmers will have the opportunity to treasure hunt for $100 in quarters. Rodgerson said the quarters will be distributed at the bottoms of the various pool areas and different age groups will dive in different areas.

Teens will have an opportunity at 12:30 to participate in a jousting competition. Rodgerson said participants will wear hockey helmets and joust from atop barrels in the pool. A Hula Hoop contest will be held at 1 pm before three to five year olds search the shallow pool for lucky ducks.

Moving to the small slides at 2, Kids will slide down them land on inner tubes and toosch tube across the pool.

An olympic splash competition will close out the first session at 2:30. rodgerson said it doesn't matter how the kids make their splases, but the largest splash in each age group will win. After the break all the pool events will begin again for a second session from 3:30 to 6pm.

Though some of the contests are age specific, Rodgerson said there should be something for most everyone.

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Big water slide gives Bohn pool big boost Adrian MI Dan Rodgerson

Big water slide gives Bohn pool big boost


By ROGER A. FERGUSON
Daily Telegram Staff Writer
ADRIAN—Long stretches of 90-degree days and high humidity are certainly a help, but community service officials say the new water slide at Bohn Pool looks to be giving the facility the boost it’s been needing.

Though revenue figures for June are not yet available, officials say it appears the pool is having a phenomenal year, perhaps the best year of this decade.
At times, lines for the city’s new water slide have reached from the top to the bottom of the structure’s winding stairs.
On two occasions this summer, people seeking refuge from the brutal heat have had to be turned away because the pool had reached its capacity.
The city’s primary goal in installing the water slide was to attract more people, specifically more teens and families, to the pool.

“It’s too early to tell for sure, but it appears that we are reaching our goal,” said Dan Rodgerson of the community services department.

Officials speculate that the slide had helped increase attendance, but want to see figures on paper before calling the slide an all out success.

“To truly determine the effect of the slide, attendance numbers need to be compared over the entire season and actually compared over the next few years,” Dan Rodgerson said. “One thing is for certain, that the patrons using the slide are having a ball.”


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