Summer has arrived; it's time to splash

Summer and swimming go arm in arm. And in our area, that means it's also Cape Splash season. The water park facility is the place children and adults take in the sun while floating in a tube, sitting under colorful umbrellas or careening down a water slide. The water park is now open for its fifth year, and this year, attendees will have the added pleasure of a new speed slide, expected to be unveiled mid-June.

Originally, the slide was anticipated to be up and running when the park opened for the season, but rainy weather has delayed its completion.

The new slide will include five flumes and boast a 319-foot three-lane mat racer, a 30-foot tower, a 265-foot free-fall slide and a 259-foot triple-drop slide. This sounds like tons of fun, and the parks and recreation department expects it to give older children more of a reason to frequent the park. The new slides provide yet another activity families are more likely to enjoy together.

The water park opened on May 23, and a host of events are already on the calendar for adults and children, including biathlons, triathlons and beach bashes. Hours of operation are now from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout the summer. These water activities provide plenty of laughs, memories and even healthy exercise.

But they also pose some danger. We want everyone to have a blast swimming, sliding and splashing around, but we also want everyone to be careful and safe out there. To help make that possible, Cape Splash and the Central Municipal Pool offer swimming lessons for adults, as well as children. Some private facilities also provide lessons to the public.

As summer approaches, it's a good time to emphasize water safety, especially while recreating in areas where there are no lifeguards. Whether you're at Cape Splash, the lake or on a float trip, make safety a priority when out in the water.

Let the safe summer fun begin!