Council Supports Plan to Add Aquatic Inflatable Sports Park at Graydon

If you want to find Deputy Mayor Tom Riche over the summer, he'll be easy to find. The deputy mayor in all likelihood will be spending time at , battling kids and others for a spot on a floating recreation raft of sorts that may increase membership and revenue significantly at the village pool.

Rich Wills, owner of Commercial Recreation Specialists was accompanied by Parks & Rec Director Tim Cronin and the large inflatable device, "The Wibit", at Wednesday night's council meeting. The inflatable device, an "Aqua Track" sports park with seven pieces, could hold as many as 30 kids, would cost an estimated $12,000 but could bring in as much as 30 percent more in revenue and membership, as it has in other municipalities, Wills said.

"It'll get people out there having fun, which should stimulate some additional membership, additional ideas to generate revenue for special events and competitions," he said.

Wills said the sports park on water helps participants burn energy and stay active, but moreover, the attraction has kids flock to it.

"When the kids see this . . . it is like a piece of chocolate for a bunch of ants at a picnic. They just attack," he said.

"It's great," Riche said in response to the proposal. "I think we would be doing a terrible, terrible disservice if we don't get this."

"We could have an Ironman competition in the summer or something like that," Cronin said of a possible revenue starter.

The proposal, which council agreed to in principle, would need to be stationed in eight-foot deep water for "kids of all ages" and have a lifeguard attending to the station in case someone should go under the Wibit, which a young Boy Scout reported could be scary.

Cronin said the 50-foot long by 5-foot wide park on water would be located in the northeast corner of the pool, inside the demarcation line by the dock from the prospective of Linwood Avenue.

There are a series of different pieces that require assembly and can be customized, Wills said. In future years, more pieces could be added. "This is built to be built on," Willis said. However, he recommended starting with the standard seven-piece set for Graydon staff to get the hang of it.

"This would be anchored properly," Wills said. "It will not float away." Seven bungee cords would be anchored to permanent footings, Cronin said.

The kids, Willis said, in his experience "police themselves" when it comes to behavior so as to "not spoil the fun." All participants would have to pass the swim test to use the Wibit. Thirty-five life vests would be purchased and be required for use.

Cronin reported that there would be no additional staff members needed, and according to Wills' remarks, it would be unexpected that insurance premium costs would rise.

The council must still vote on approving the measure when a formal resolution is introduced, likely in the coming weeks.

The health department and engineering department have both preliminarily said the prospective plan meets each department's standard, Cronin said.