Trained lifeguards? Check. Concession workers? Check. Fresh water? Check. Giant tipping bucket?
Check!
City employees are busy preparing for Saturday’s opening of the Wetlands at Great Bend Aquatic Center — a sure sign of the unofficial start of summer. Weather permitting, the water park located at 2303 Main will be open from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday and seven days a week from then on.
Starting June 3, there will also be Family Night hours from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
This year the Wetlands has a new pool manager, Devan Boeger. This is her seventh year to work at the aquatic center; for six years she served as a lifeguard, including four as the head lifeguard.
Boeger said city employees started filling the pool on Sunday and finished the job Monday, which means the water is still fairly cold. That’s one reason the Family Nights won’t start until June. (Another reason is that the first week is usually devoted to final training of approximately three dozen summer employees.) But temperatures have already reached the 90s a few times, so the water is warming quickly.
Some of the pool staff have already started work, but many are high school students who are finishing their classes this week. Boeger said boot camp training for lifeguards and concession workers will take place Thursday and Friday.
Since 2005, the city has billed the Wetlands at Great Bend Aquatic Center as one of the premier water parks in the state of Kansas. It features slides, spray features, swimming pool with a divided shallow end separated by floating features, climbing wall, a Water Wars area for slinging water balloons and that 300-gallon tipping bucket, which periodically drenches anyone what stands under it.
Admission to the Wetlands is $3 for youths 3-17 years old, $4 for adults 18 and older, and free for children under 3. Admission on Family Nights is $2, and discount passes good for 15 visits are available for $40. The aquatic center is also available for private parties and special events. For more information call 620-792-1516.
The Great Bend Recreation Commission began taking registrations for summer swimming lessons last week. The first session starts June 4. Sign up for lessons at the GBRC Office, 1214 Stone St., or call 793-3755.  
Classes will be taught by American Red Cross Certified Water Safety Instructors and GBRC water safety aides. All staff are certified in First Aid and CPR. For more information contact Recreation Program Coordinator Megan Hammeke by calling 792-2604