The water is fine, so go ahead and jump in.
From Deep River Waterpark to lakefront beaches and community pools, lifeguards are ready and finishing touches are cared for as outdoor swimming season gets underway in Northwest Indiana over Memorial Day weekend.
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Deepn River Waterpark, located off U.S. 30 and east of Southlake Mall, opens at 10 a.m. Friday for its 31st “simply splashtastic” season.
The park is open seven days a week and doesn’t close until Labor Day weekend, Deep River Waterpark General Manager Nicole Drexler said.
Weather predictions are indicating a cool and rainy start, but park staff are hopeful the weather will improve on Memorial Day.
“We’re excited to be here for the 31st season for families to come out and spend their time outside and be here with us,” Drexler said.
If you prefer swimming pools or the beach over a waterpark, there are other options to pick from in Northwest Indiana, including the Munster Community Pool opening on Saturday; the Pleasant Township Pool in Kouts opening on May 30; and the Hobart pool opening on June 8.
Both the Indiana Dunes National and the State Parks are open year-round, so there isn’t an official opening day, Indiana Dunes media spokesperson Michelle Senderhauf said.
“Typically, the biggest crowds occur between Memorial Day and Labor Day, and that is usually when lifeguards are available,” Senderhauf said.
Some 260 water safety employees at Deep River Waterpark received training and a full staff of 90 lifeguards is on hand to handle any safety issues, Drexler said.
All three pools, including Munster, Pleasant Township Pool and Hobart, are fully staffed with certified lifeguards, officials said.
In addition to training employees, Drexler said her waterpark staff was busy putting on the final touches, including inflating inner tubes and cleaning up fallen tree branches.
“Most of the stuff is done,” Drexler said.
Birthday celebration packages are back at the waterpark this year, and there’s also a place for adults to relax and get away from it all.
“We created a hammock lounge area in the courtyard so parents have a place to go,” she said.
Lake County Parks and Recreation, which operates the waterpark, first started planning the facility in 1988 after a research survey showed the public wanted more water activities in the parks’ system, according to the park’s website.
The waterpark opened in 1995, initially drawing some 220,000 visitors. Last year, the waterpark attracted around 150,000 people, Drexler said.
The 22-acre park includes 16 large slides, three rides for small children, cabana rentals, gazebos, shelters and dining options. For more information on Deep River Waterpark, check out www.deepriverwaterpark.com.
Area pools which open in the coming days include:
•The Munster Community Pool, 8837 Calumet Ave., Munster, opens from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, go to www.munster.org.
•The Hobart pool, 825 W. 10th St., Hobart, opens from 11 a.m to 6 p.m., weather permitting, starting on June 8. There are daily passes, resident discounts and family passes available.
For more information, go to cityofhobart.org or call the parks department at 219-942-2987.
•The Pleasant Township Pool, 812 Sunset Drive, Kouts, opens from noon to 6 p.m. on May 30, said township trustee Karyl VanDyke. The pool is open to anyone, residents and non-residents, from noon to 6 p.m. on weekends and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekdays.
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“We used to open on Memorial Day but learned from experience to open later because of the weather,” VanDyke said.
The pool, which Van Dyke terms a hidden gem, is the only pool in the state operated by a township. For more information, go to pleasanttownshiptrustee.org.
When it comes to the Indiana National Dunes Park, West Beach has locker rooms, showers and lifeguards from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., including equipment setup and take-down. No other National Park beaches have lifeguards, so people swim at their own risk, Senderhauf said.
The lifeguarded beach at Indiana Dunes State Park is in front of the pavilion building, with lifeguards on duty from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The state park is open from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. unless otherwise posted.
“We encourage visitors to check the weather and lake conditions before swimming, as we have rip currents here that can overcome the strongest swimming,” she said.
More information on Indiana Dunes State Park is available at www.in.gov/dnr/state-parks/parks-lakes/indiana-dunes-state-park. Details on Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore can be found at www.nps.gov/indu.
Deborah Laverty is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.