Ahoy! New play structure that replaces pirate ship has sailed into pool at Woodland Park
The new play structure at Woodland Aquatic Center opened Friday, just in time for summer fun.
“Ahoy mateys! Are you ready to swim?” Mayor Linda Gorton asked Friday afternoon as a crowd of children waited to give the new feature, dubbed Paradise Lagoon, a try for the first time.
Paradise Lagoon replaces the old pirate ship feature, which was removed in 2021, after more than 20 years at Woodland Park, because corrosion made it no longer seaworthy.
Gorton said it was sad when the pirate ship, known as the U.S.S. Woodland, “was lost in the briny deep.”
“Now it has washed ashore in Woodland Park’s new Paradise Lagoon, just in time for pool season, one of many new upgrades surfacing in city pools all over town,” Gorton said at a ribbon cutting celebrating the opening of the new pool feature Friday afternoon.
Some of the old pirate ship parts have been repurposed on the new, larger play structure, which includes “multiple places for little sea dogs to play and to swim,” said Councilmember Hannah LeGris, whose district includes Woodland Park.
The new play area includes a zero-depth entry and water play table along with a ship’s wheel, spyglass, water spray features and a bucket that dumps water.
The upgraded play structure is one of several improvements to the city’s pools that were paid for with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city dedicated $25.1 million in ARPA funding to Parks and Recreation, and $2 million of that went to pools.
Other improvements include a new turtle feature at Southland and new pumps and filter tanks at some locations. Shillito’s pool got decking repairs, and a water feature at Tates Creek has been repaired.
New diving boards were installed last year, said Parks and Recreation Director Monica Conrad.
She said a major renovation to the Douglass Pool is expected to begin this fall and should be ready to open next summer.
The new play area at Woodland seemed to be getting the stamp of approval from little swashbucklers Friday afternoon.
“Looks like so far they’re having fun,” Kiauna Coleman said as she watched children splashing in Paradise Lagoon. “This was a perfect last day of school activity.”
Imani Shelby, 17, said she thinks the new play area is even better than the old one.
“I love it,” she said. “It kind of gives the kids more to do in the pool.”
Woodland Aquatic Center, along with the Southland, Tates Creek and Castlewood aquatic centers, opened for the season Friday afternoon. The neighborhood pools at Douglass and Shilitto parks open June 3.
Pools are open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays, except the Douglass Park pool, which is open noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sundays.
Admission is $6 for adults and $4 for youths 15 and under, except at Shillito, which is $5 for adults and $3 for youths, and Douglass, which costs $4 for adults and $3 for youths.
This story was originally published May 26, 2023 at 8:22 PM.