Splash park mayhem?
Insiders tell me that the Louisville Zoo's new Glacier Run Splash Park may be off to a slightly, um, crappy start.
The concept is ideal, don't get me wrong: who hasn't considered how wonderful it would be to cool off, on a long, hot day at our city's awesome zoo?
But while the park is currently a new attraction, it's "splasher" beware. Hazards on the scene include kids in regular diapers instead of swim diapers --- as one mom put it, "E.Coli, anyone?"-- and teens and adults (even some dads) making the play area too scary for the little ones to enjoy.
If you're one of the many thousands sure to check out the Zoo this summer, you'll want to take along an extra towel to dry off, and a dry change of clothes, as well as your swim suit. And by all means, don't be afraid to speak up to over-active adults spoiling the fun for any kiddies you have along.
I have full confidence that our excellent zoo staff will, over time, develop safe and sanitary rules for the new splash park, as well as a list of suggested bring-alongs for zoo visitors (recent reports of kids in their underwear have been confirmed by multiple moms).
Our zoo is one of the best in the world, no doubt about it. I visited the St. Louis Zoo, myself, last year, and found it to be neat, but somewhat dated in comparison to our ever-growing, dynamic Louisville Zoo.
Call ahead, though, visitors, and ask about bathing suits, towels, and age limits in the splash park. It wouldn't surprise me if the Zoo has curtails this initial chaos by the time you visit. The zoo is absolutely the friendliest family destination in Louisville. They won't let us down.
Updated as of 7/7/07: my sources tell me this problem is now under control...but it's still a guest-to-guest issue of "big" people hogging the little kid play areas...
