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Watered-down fun: Local water parks offer plenty of opportunities to cool down this summer

There’s nothing like the cool fun of a water park to beat the heat of summer, and residents of the Altoona area have several affordable, close-to-home options to escape the upcoming soaring temperatures.

Laguna Splash Water Park

The recent renovations to the Laguna Splash Water Park at Delgrosso’s are sure to please crowds of all ages.

“The lazy river and wave pool are new as of 2016,” said Amy Mearkle, the director of marketing for DelGrosso’s. “The lazy river is my personal favorite. It’s wonderful to just relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery as you float along.”

The only Italian-themed water park in the country offers an assortment of attractions, giving both families and individual guests myriad options for cooling off in the summer.

Although general admission to the ride park is free, visitors must purchase an All-Day Fun Pass to enjoy the water park and other rides. DelGrosso’s regularly offers special deals and coupons, and park vouchers can be purchased online to save time.

Both the water park and the ride park will open for Memorial Day weekend, operating from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Laguna Splash Water Park will officially open for the season on June 3.

Juniata Memorial Spray Park

A relatively new attraction in Blair County is the Juniata Memorial Spray Park, which opened just two years ago after the public pool was deemed irreparable.

The regular season runs from June 3 to Aug. 27, although the park will temporarily open for Memorial Day weekend. Typically, Juniata Memorial Spray Park operates from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 12 to 7 p.m. on Sundays.

Daily admission charges are low. Children ages 2 to 18 cost $2 each, and adults are only $1. Infants are free.

Season passes for the park are $25 for an individual and $50 for a family of four; additional family members cost $10 per person. With a fully stocked concession stand, visitors can easily spend a whole summer splashing in the park, which includes a spill bucket, spray stands and other fun ways to beat summer boredom.

WildRiver Water Park

Lake Raystown Resort is another local, affordable option for cooling off. WildRiver Water Park offers two 380-foot water slides, the White Water Innertube Ride, the Atomic Blaster and a children’s play pool. The park is open every day of the week for at least six hours, providing guests with plenty of fun, safe opportunities to visit throughout the summer.

“We are proud to note that our pools and slides are staffed by lifeguards certified through the Ellis and Associate’s International Lifeguard Training Program, trained right here at our own facility,” said Tiffany Diehl, manager of the water park.

WildRiver Water Park offers several different ticketing packages, allowing visitors to choose the option that best fits their budget. For example, one could purchase a season pass, which provides the guest with season-long access to all of the attractions and costs $54.95 per person, or simply buy a day pass, affording one-day access to the park for $14.95 per person.

The park also offers evening passes for a reduced rate, as well as a “Monday Carload Special,” which allows up to six people access to the park’s attractions.

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