Watered down: Wet weather causes lag in Cape Splash numbers

For Amy Romine and her two "water babies," the Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center doesn't offer an occasional break from the searing summer heat. Since they moved to Jackson from northeast Missouri last year, it's a rare day that they don't go.

So on the first afternoon of summer Tuesday, with temperatures reaching into the high 80s, the Cape Girardeau water park was naturally where they were -- Romine peacefully reading her paperback as Ashley, 9, and Garrett, 6, cooled off traipsing through a splash pad, floating on the lazy river or screaming down a water slide.

"We love it," Romine said. "The children have swim lessons and then we just stick around after. We've been here every day since it opened. We literally come here every day that it isn't raining."

And that's the problem. While parks officials appreciate such devotion, the rainy spring hasn't only put a damper on the daily plans of the Romine family and others like them. After exceeding all expectation in its inaugural year in 2010, this year has gotten off to a shaky start as the spotty weather has dragged down the water park's overall attendance figures and net revenue.

"I know we could be where we were last year, if not for the weather," said Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation manager Penny Williams. "Memorial Day weekend was terrible. I was working that day and I had a coat on."

Rylie Ploe, left, watches Tuesday as a downpour of water lands on her sister Corryna at Cape Splash Family Aquatic Center in Cape Girardeau. LAURA SIMONlsimon@semissourian.com

Since the $6.1 million water park opened May 29, it has rained eight of the last 24 days, including a trace on Tuesday. That has left an impact on the water park's bottom line, which last year was expected to barely break even but instead netted $322,000.

This year, the numbers aren't as great so far, according to figures provided by the city's parks and recreation department. From May 29 through Monday, the water park saw overall attendance figures hit 22,296, which is 10,565 fewer than the same period last year. Revenue to date stands at about $152,066, which is $65,992 less than this time last year. The one bright spot is the sales of family passes, which reached $41,625, up $6,352 from 2010.

"Last year, everything fell in line," Williams said. "We had a new facility, it was a boiling hot summer and we were open every day of the season. We have a good turnout this year, too, when the weather cooperates."

Williams is optimistic that it's not too late for the season to pick up. The facility doesn't close until Sept. 6. She also knows that people would appreciate some of the changes that have been made, including the addition of 16 new lockers, 10 picnic tables, 70 floating tubes and 90 lounge chairs.

"We're doing everything we can to turn this around," Williams said. "It's still pretty early."

But Danny Essner, the chairman of the city's parks advisory board, said how great the rebound will be all depends on the weather. Last year was unusually hot and there was a huge amount of sunshine.

"I think the timing couldn't have been better for opening Cape Splash last year," Essner said. "But unless the weather patterns change, I would suspect that the attendance will be down this year from last year."

But Cape Splash, while certainly high-profile, isn't the only city-owned water facility. Williams was eager for residents to see some changes that have been made at the Central Municipal Pool, which is set to reopen at 1 p.m. today after being closed since May 1 for remodeling.

The $975,000 project called for renovating the pool's bathhouse, admissions area, the shower room, family changing area and the multipurpose room. Deck renovations included adding a new diving board, lifeguard stands, deck surfacing, a new gutter system and fencing.

The changes are even more aesthetically pleasing than parks planners had hoped, Essner said.

"We thought we were going to be doing some minor upgrades, but it ended up being some more dramatic improvements than we were anticipating," Essner said. "I think people are going to like it."

Cape Splash and what many refer to as "the Bubble" have dramatically different target audiences, Williams said, with families and children gravitating toward the water park and competitive swimmers and exercise enthusiasts using the Olympic-size pool at Central Municipal Pool that is open year-round.

But to say the city will have only two municipally owned water facilities may be premature. The aging Capaha Park pool was razed this spring -- using funds from last year's water park proceeds -- and one of the ideas being tossed around to replace it is a splash pad similar to the ones at the water park.

"It may be that or it may be something else," Williams said. "But we're really proud of the two facilities we have. Our enthusiasm has not been dampened by the inclement weather."

smoyers@semissourian.com

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