Designers provide artist's rendering of Cape water park

A -- Sun deck: A deck lined with reclining chairs provides space for people to bask in the sun.

B -- Waterfall: A waterfall takes water from a plunge pool into the Lazy River. The waterfall isn't meant for swimmers to use, only to supply water to the Lazy River.

C -- Water slides: Four large water slides run into a splash pool bounded by the waterfall and a large lap pool.

D -- Lap pool: Two of the water slides empty into a six-lane lap pool that is connected to two other pools.

E -- Vortex pool: Adjacent to the lap pool, swirling water is powered by jets in the vortex pool.

F -- Water playground: A shallow water playground for families is connected to the lap and vortex pools.

G -- Pump house: A pump and filter house also serves as a first aid station.

H -- Pavilion: A pavilion can be used to escape from the sun and relax. It will also be used for pool parties.

I -- Splash pad: A splash pad with very shallow water shoots streams of water into the air.

J -- Bath house

K -- Dining/resting area: A concrete pad with several funbrellas serves as another spot to eat and relax.

L -- Lazy River: 700 feet of moving water in an 11-foot-wide trench winds through much of the water park.

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Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department officials received a full-color artist's rendering last week of what the new Family Aquatic Center will look like when it is completed this spring.

The rendering was provided in electronic format to the city by Markey and Associates Inc. of Kennesaw, Ga., the firm that designed the water park. The rendering shows in detail the aquatic center's features, including multicolored "funbrellas," the Lazy River that winds through about half of the park, several pools, four water slides and a splash pad where jets shoot water into the air, among others.

Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department Director Dan Muser said recent rains have slowed work on the water park, but the city still expects contractor Penzel Construction Co. to finish work by the end of May.

"That's been our goal," Muser said. "We'll just have to see where we're at the closer we get."

The project architect will be visiting Cape Girardeau soon to deliver a large-scale printed version of the rendering.

The Family Aquatic Center is the showpiece project for $20 million worth of park improvements authorized by voters in April 2008. Voters approved a half-cent sales tax that will last 10 years to finance the parks program and pay for storm-water control improvements.

msanders@semissourian.com

388-3652