Waves of excitement... sounds of success.

These are just a few statements you might overhear as you enter the North Clackamas Aquatic Park. This $8.9 million facility was merely a dream a few years ago. Now it's not only reality, it s a success.

The North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District has a boundary encompassing 30 square miles and services more than 85,000 citizens. Planning for the Parks and Recreation District began in 1988. Under the direction and guidance of the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners, a team of county staff was assembled d to develop a plan for the provision of park and recreational services to the urbanized unincorporated sections of Clackamas County.

A volunteer task force of approximately 30 residents was assembled to assist the staff in the planning efforts. A master plan for the new Parks and Recreation District was compiled, and voters approved the District's formation in November 1990. The plan called for the development of a Regional Park, a major aquatics complex, and neighborhood parks. Construction of the North Clackamas Aquatic Park began in February of 1993.

In the Beginning

The North Clackamas Aquatic Park opened its doors to the public on June 9, 1994. It is an elaborate facility adjacent to a 105-acre regional park being developed by the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District. When complete, the regional park will include youth baseball and softball fields, soccer fields, four miles or walking/biking trails, picnic shelters, volleyball courts, and miles of natural area. The aquatic park features five swimming areas, three water slides, two diving boards, a huge spa, four community rooms, a concession stand, outside picnic area, patio/sunbathing deck, outdoor sand volleyball court, retail shop, and an indoor/outdoor "playcare" area. Our locker rooms include four family change rooms.

The entire indoor facility covers 45,000 square feet, including administrative offices: the swimming pools combined contain more than 400,000 gallons of water.

The facilities include a large wave pool, (zero depth to 7 ft.), a splashdown pool/interactive play area (18 in. depth to 4 ft.), a six-lane 25 yd. lap pool (3 ft. 6 in. depth to 4 ft. 9 in.), a diving well (13 ft. depth), and a kiddy pool (8 in. depth to 18 in.) complete with a spouting whale.

Our three water slides involve an ascent of a 27-foot concrete tower to a 200-foot open slide, or a 167-foot enclosed tube, both of which plunge into the splashdown pool. The 20-root drop slide, midway up the climb, has a four-foot drop into the diving well.

The wave pool is capable of generating four-foot waves in varying patterns. This pool, along with the splashdown pool/interactive area, holds 186,000 gallons and is kept at 85 degrees. Four chambers serviced by two fan units generate the cycled waves.

There are emergency shutoffs located around the wave pool and at the top of the slide tower, along with remote shut offs carried by guards.

The adjacent splashdown pool/interactive area not only absorbs the bumps of the two twisting water slides but also contains play apparatus for children to manipulate. The swimmers enjoy a change of pace by pulling on showers to douse themselves, and turning wheels to dump water on their buddies.

Our Lap Pool is 25 yards long with six lanes. It is accessible from either a convenient 25-foot wide set of steps that shoot off to the side of the pool and enter into three-and-one-half feet of water, or those with special needs can enter via a 40-foot ramp at the shallow end of the pool. This area, along with the dive well, are comfortable at 83 degrees for aerobic exercise classes and laps. This pool also has been equipped for competition, and many diverse activities take place in this popular area.

The dive well seems to invite more daring individuals. It is complete with two one-meter diving boards.

All of our pools use sodium hypochlorite for sanitation and CO2 for pH control. There are four separate circulation systems servicing the various bodies of water.

A management staff of seven full-time employees and a part-time staff of over 150 handle operations.

High Goals

Our operation has set high goals for itself, and we have reached our objectives. Our projected annual participant total is 220,000 patrons. And in our first five months alone, we already have had 138,000 visitors pass through our doors. We have serviced close to 5,000 visits to our aquatic exercise classes. And we have hosted birthday parties with more than 8,600 young guest ,.

Of course, these statistics indicate that our concession/catering facilities have been kept busy, and the maintenance crew and lifeguards and instructors have had their hands full. Our front desk cashiers are kept hopping, and all of our administrative staff--including our shift coordinators--keep it all smoothly working together for the public's satisfaction. We even have a busy mascot, Sammy the Seal, who makes public appearances from time to time.

Our facility has chosen the American Red Cross as its certification affiliate. And all of our lifeguards are certified in lifeguard training, CPR, and First Aid. To date our certified water safety instructors have taught over 11,000 Red Cross "Learn to Swim" lessons and have issued 1,057 certificates. We also offer classes in First Aid and CPR to the public. And our facility conducts adult swimming lessons, teen wave classes, community water safety, scuba diving, snorkeling, synchronized swimming, adaptive lessons, and diving. We service local scouting groups and welcome area competitive teams.

Master Swim Program

At our aquatic park we also are building an active Master Swim Program; and our "Swim for Distance" club is off to a great start. Some of these activities also keep our "Playcare" facility busy for the parent's convenience. Our administration has made cooperative arrangements with a local college to offer aquatic programs for course credit. We also have a wonderful inter-governmental agreement with the area school district. our staff certifies high schoolers in Red Cross water safety instruction and, in turn, these students teach area fourth graders how to swim.

The North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District has been chosen as one of the host sites for the national roll-out of the new Red Cross "Lifeguarding Today" program. And our facility was fortunate in its first year of operation to receive from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Association's "1994 Design Award."

We're riding a wave of success at North Clackamas, and we don't see an end in sight to the possibilities for future success.