Splash Montana set to open

(MISSOULA)- After being rained out the first two weekends of the season, Missoula's popular Splash Montana water park is finally set to open Saturday. 

Parks and Rec managers usually try to get the park open right around Labor Day, at least for the weekend. But once more this year the weather didn't cooperate and Splash remained closed, including over Memorial Day. The city's policy calls for closing the park when there's a threat of thunderstorms or temperatures drop. 

The park will open for continuous summer operation 11:30 Saturday morning, with the usual 8:30 pm. June closing time. 

Admission prices this year are $3.75 for children 11 and under, $4.25 for teens and seniors 58-years old and up and a $6 one-time fee for adults. Missoula residents can realize additional savings by getting their residency card and purchasing a swim pass. 

Bad weather still interfering with summer start at Splash Montana

(MISSOULA)- For the second summer in a row, bad weather continues to delay the start of summer fun at the popular Splash Montana waterpark. 

For the third weekend in a row, cold temperatures and rain stopped a general opening of the park, with its pools and water slides. Missoula Parks and Recreation had hoped to open Splash for its full say of operation Saturday, but the cold weather kept the park closed. 

However "The Lake" 50-meter pool was scheduled to be open briefly for adult lap swims Saturday, and again Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Weather permitting, the city is now hoping to open the park for full operation on Monday. 

Wet weather putting a damper on Splash MT opening

(MISSOULA)- All the wet weather of the past couple of weeks might be cutting the summer fire danger back. But it’s also starting to interfere with your summer fun, as the cool, moist conditions have put Splash Montana’s opening day on hold.

Missoula Parks and Recreation is hoping conditions will improve enough to allow an opening next week, and have set Saturday, June 9^th as the new opening target for Splash. However, that is still “weather permitting.” The park would open on its regular 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. schedule if the weather dries out enough.

Splash Montana managers gauge both temperatures, and also the threat of thunderstorms when deciding if the pool, slides and other water features can open. Last year the park had repeated interruptions as the wet, cold weather continued through most of June.

In the meantime, the city is encouraging people to keep using the indoor features of the Currents Aquatic Center until Splash can open.

Once the weather changes, Splash Montana will be open daily until August 26^th this year. The city posts weather closure information on the Splash Montana line at 542-WAVE (9283.) 

Engen: Enjoy "Splash", third pool not in immediate future

(MISSOULA)- By Dennis Bragg

Missoula Mayor John Engen is thrilled Splash Montana is such a big success, with more than 100,000 people visiting the water park in its 5^th year.

But he also believes it’s a little soon to start expecting a second park to open elsewhere in the city.

The final numbers show this was a banner year indeed at Splash Montana, with the park used by more than 106,000 swimmers by the time it closed this month. That’s a huge jump over last year’s record of 88,000 and is even more impressive when you remember this summer got off to a slow start because of the lingering bad weather in June.

And Mayor Engen notes those aren’t just Missoula residents getting wet, having fun, and spending money…

“I can not tell you how many visitors, and I see a lot of visitors, come to Missoula in the summertime, and that’s the first thing out of their mouth. My family, we spent the day at Splash Montana. Wow! I wish we had one of those where we live. And that’s really gratifying.” 

In fact the park was so packed once the weather changed in July, some people were asking us when the city was going to build another pool, especially on the west side. So I put that question to the mayor during a recent conversation.

He tells me another pool, to go along with Splash and the indoor park at Currents, is definitely on the city’s long-term radar. But Engen says it’s probably too soon to get out the shovels…

“We do extensive planning around recreational facilities. And our long-term plans call for more aquatics facilities. And, you know, if money weren’t an objective we’d tip one up elsewhere. But we have to be very measured about that. And we have to be conscious if we build another one, do we just cut attendance in the existing one in half and all those things come into play.” 

Engen tells us he’s also very proud of the city’s splash decks, which give neighborhood kids a chance to “make their own fun” for free.

For now, the mayor’s advice for Splash fans is to continue to enjoying the existing facilities… and the success they’ve become 5-years after some critics threw cold water on the idea…

“Absolutely, and I’m grateful to the community for embracing these facilities. It’s become clear there was a an appetite for them, and we’re doing our best to feed it.”