As Alabama businesses continue to reopen following the coronavirus lockdown measures, some Alabama’s water parks are planning their summer seasons.
Alabama Splash Adventure in Bessemer, and Spring Valley Beach in Blountsville, are targeting May 30 as their reopening date. Meanwhile, Decatur’s Point Mallard Water Park, which had anticipated a May 23rd opening, has not set a new date. Its campground and golf course are currently open.
Alabama Adventure Amusement Park & Splash Adventure Water Park has adopted a slogan for the season, following several changes to adapt to coronavirus prevention measures: “We will be ready to ride when you are.”
Last month, park officials said they will beef up the cleaning staff, including health screenings of employees, taking temperatures before admission to work, providing appropriate personal protective equipment, increasing sanitation stations, and adding cleaning procedures on “every surface of the park, everyday.” The park is also currently hiring additional staff.
Splash Adventure plans two new shows this year - an “aquabatic stunt show” and “Wild West Dive Show.” It also plans to operate for an extra week-and-a-half in August to make up for the lost time in May.
Experts say that the average amount of chlorine in swimming pools will kill COVID-19, assuming the pool is properly maintained. At the Centers for Disease Control website, a directive says that there is “no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.”
The CDC recommends that recreational water facilities should follow local and state guidance, and individuals should practice social distancing and good hand hygiene in and out of the water.
Park officials with Spring Valley Beach, a park with water slides and a large pool, said last week that its May 30 opening is “subject to change at a moment’s notice."
“We have not received official word from the State or anyone affiliated with the current COVID-19 pandemic the world is currently dealing with,” a statement on the park website reads. “That being said, we are a business like thousands of others across this nation that must operate to survive.”
The park is not currently taking pavilion reservations.
“We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 regulations and will post any updated information about our plans for the summer as soon as we receive them,” the park stated.