East Lansing Aquatic Center opening day

After the brutal heat of Memorial Day weekend, Lansing is dying for some relief. Though it would’ve certainly been a lifesaver last week, the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center is having its much needed opening day Saturday. As always, the park will be available to patrons until the death knell of summer fun, Labor Day.

Located right down Abbot Road, the aquatic center boasts quite a bit of features despite its modest size. The family oriented water park is equipped with two full size water slides — a 140- foot body water slide and a 190-foot tube slide. Aside from the slides, the park packs: a full concession stand, diving board, drop slide, large sunbathing deck, picnic areas, splash park, sandy play area, youth slide, water-play structures and the easily accessible zero-depth pool entry.

Unfortunately, because of East Lansing’s budget issues, it’s a bit harder to set a concrete schedule for the aquatic center. Slashing the aquatic center’s funding or even closing it has been pondered by the city. As it stands right now, the aquatic center will continue business as usual.

“One of the things we're working through is the city’s big budget crunch,” said Jim Jennings, East Lansing’s athletics and aquatics coordinator. “Until the financial aspect is determined by the residents then we're kind of in a holding pattern of doing anything different out there.”

But there’s still a variety of theme days scheduled for the summer.

“Our big event is Summer Splash which is July 25. We've also done other fun event days like flip-flop day, where we give away flip flops to say the first 50 customers that come in,” Jennings explained. “We do a sunglasses day, where we give away sunglasses. We usually also have a couple of days throughout the summer where we actually bring in a DJ.”

Jennings also mentioned what he thinks is the thriftiest way to visit the aquatic center, the 10-visit pass.

“It's a punch card that can be used up to 10 times for anybody in your party, so you don't have to have a 10-punch pass per person,” Jennings said. “You could come with a party of 10 people, get a 10-punch pass, which is a discounted rate. I personally think that's the most economical way to visit the water park.”

East Lansing Aquatic Center Opening Day Saturday, June 2 11 a.m.-6p.m. East Lansing Aquatic Center 6400 Abbot Road, East Lansing See website for admission price options (517) 333-2580 www.cityofeastlansing. com/852/Aquatic- Center