By Ryan Oliver
Orem residents celebrated the opening of the city''s new water park Saturday, May 24, using the new facility to cool off from soaring spring temperatures.
SCERA Park Pools'' opening included free donuts and smoothies, prizes and a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Orem Mayor Jerry Washburn and other city officials.
The facility includes four swimming pools, water slides, a wet sand play area and concession stands, and offers activities for all age groups.
The project cost $3.8 million, paid for with a $12.5 million state grant given to the city to promote outdoor recreation and took just over a year to build.
Mike Johnson, facility manager for the pool, said the city is using the rest of the grant money to complete its Pool, Parks and Play project, which includes completion of two parks, the remodeling of the Orem Fitness Center and the building of a new skate park.
The major said the project not only gives families a fun place to play, but it is also a lesson in civics that teaches the importance of public input in community proceedings.
The original plan for the facility was to have the pool built across the block where the parking lot for SCERA Park currently exists.
Some Orem residents opposed that plan, concerned about the impact the facility would have on the neighborhood.
Concern was also expressed that the pool would be too close to a nearby elementary school and the lawn it would take up was too valuable as an exercise area for students and families.
City council members listened to the opinions of residents and then negotiated with SCERA, the community''s cultural education and recreation promoters, to purchase a portion of their property near State Street.
'It''s a good example of public input,' Washburn said. 'We worked together with community to improve our plan for the facility.'
Former Orem resident Cumorah Holdaway agreed the current location is better for the neighborhood.
'The first proposal we didn''t like, but then the city and SCERA came up with this plan,' she said. 'We like it a lot more because we hated to see them tear up all the green space.'
After heading down one of the park''s water slides, Mike Johnson reflected on the effort required to get the facility approved and constructed.
'It''s been a long time coming,' he said. 'To see it finally come together is really fun.'