MOUNT VERNON — After being closed the entire 2020 season due to the coronavirus, Hiawatha Water Park regained about 78% of its pre-COVID attendance in 2021.
In 2019, 52,129 visited the water park. Last year it drew 40,599 people.
In both years, the park operated 81 days with partial closure on 11 days. Last year the park closed completely on 10 days compared to six days in 2019. Some of the 2021 closures were due to weather; some were due to reduced lifeguard staffing.
“Overall, I think our first year back from the pandemic was solid,” Council member Amber Keener told Mount Vernon City Council members on Monday night.
Auditor Terry Scott agreed.
“Not only did we see a lot of attendance, but our concessions really went through the roof,” he said.
2019 expenses were slightly over $615,000. Of that, $221,000 went toward debt service. Operations accounted for $394,000.
In 2021, expenses totaled $610,700 with debt accounting for $223,000 and operations $387,700.
Although the park was closed in 2020, Scott said the city maintained the pool pretty much as usual, filling the pool and running the pipes. Pool experts advised the city not to “leave it sit there” as that would lead to problems. Expenses in 2020 ran between $10,000 and $13,000.
Keener said that in an effort to increase efficiency, make it easier for the city, and bring in more families, the city will partner with several organizations next year. One such example is the Tot Lot program, which the YMCA will take over and run in conjunction with its summer program.
Mayor Matt Starr said the idea is to essentially steer those interested in the Tot Lot program to get involved with the YMCA since the YMCA offers similar programming. As this develops, there might be other partners with similar programing who can also take on youth participation. Using the water park will be one of those central activities.
“It’s their forte; it only makes sense that we try and partner with them,” said Starr.
Pre-sale tickets are available through the auditor’s office through April 30. Pre-sale prices for residents/nonresidents are:
•$200/$250 household membership
•$95/$125 individual (age 5-59)
•$50/$75 children (age 1-5)
•$55/$80 seniors (age 60+)
Last year, a lot of the pre-sales came from the Mansfield and Bellville area. About 75% to 80% of ticket revenue comes from memberships.
For more information about the pool, daily rates, and rates after April 30, click here.
In council’s legislative session, Starr presented a proclamation to Steve Oster, superintendent of Knox County Board of Developmental Disabilities, in recognition of March being DD awareness month. Council also took the following actions:
•Gave a second reading to a resolution delineating rules of conduct for council meetings
•Approved as emergencies supplemental appropriations, fund transfers, and bill payments
•Approved as an emergency the appointments of Lorraine Boss, Jordan Shremshock, and Joe Booker to the Library Board of Trustees
•Gave first readings to two ordinances annexing two parcels (7.5 and 6.5 acres) into the city from Clinton Township
•Gave a first reading to an ordinance creating the position of project manager in the engineering department
