CHENEY, Wash. — People across the Inland Northwest seeking relief from summer heat have a new destination after Cheney’s aquatic center officially opened its doors to the public today.
The new spot offers everything from fast-paced waterslides to relaxing lazy river floats.
The $15 million project represents four years of community-driven planning and features amenities that reflect extensive local input. The grand opening drew enthusiastic crowds on a day with ideal weather conditions.
Community members expressed excitement about finally accessing the long-awaited facility. Young visitor Waverly captured the anticipation many felt leading up to the opening.
“I’ve been waiting for a while to get into the slides,” Waverly said.
The project bears the fingerprints of the Cheney community throughout its design, from the zero-depth entrance to the two towering waterslides.
Local businesses played a crucial role in making key features possible, with prominent companies stepping up to sponsor major attractions.
“The owners of Holliday Heating and Cooling and Moser Inc, like I said, best friends. And here they are sponsoring water slides and making it possible for children just like them to enjoy the facility like they did when they were kids,” said Dan Curley, project manager for the aquatic center.
“It’s a nice place and most of my friends come here so it’s like a nice hang out spot,” said Isla, a young visitor. “We’ve been doing the ninja course and the diving board and the rock climbing wall.”
The new facility is expected to serve not only Cheney residents but also draw visitors from surrounding communities. Curley estimates that half of the center’s users will come from outside the city limits, potentially boosting local economic activity.
“Half of our participants here will be coming from outside of the city of Cheney to. And so not only will we be serving the community, the surrounding areas, but, you know, bringing people in and just building some enthusiasm for Cheney,” Curley said.
“Through the planning and design process, we got lots of feedback from the community about what they wanted to see. And, here we are today, showing off all the all the stuff that they hopefully asked for,” Curley said.
City officials are committed to making the facility accessible to the broader community through various programs and partnerships. Plans include offering free swim days and collaborating with local businesses to reduce barriers to access.
“We have a number of free swim days that we’re gonna[sic] be offering the community. And we hope to just continue, teaming up with local businesses and, and the community to make us accessible as possible,” Curley said.
“It’s been well worth the wait. Can’t believe the day is finally here. And, so excited to see that after all the hard work and planning that the community came out today, and it looks like they’re having a great time,” Curley said.
Visitors planning to use the new aquatic center should be aware of ongoing construction in the area. Cedar Street remains closed, which may impact parking availability around the facility.
The opening comes as temperatures across the Inland Northwest continue to climb, making the timing particularly relevant for residents seeking ways to stay cool during the summer months.
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