Area Residents Rush East Lansing Water Park

June 24, 2009 - 8:46 PM

Today's scorching heat translating into some cool cash for the city of East Lansing as swimmers from around mid-Michigan came to the city's water park to take a dip.

The city's park, complete with slides and a splash pad, is open to everyone, and their cash.

Visitors came from Grand Ledge, Charlotte, and Jackson, all in search of a dose of wet relief.

It may have been the biggest pool party in the area.

Young and old sliding, splashing, and even back-smacking their way toward getting cool, and the city is happy to oblige folks from far beyond the East Lansing borders.

"I like East Lansing period. It's a nice environment, clean environment," said Elvis Malcolm of Grand Ledge.

The head lifeguard and manager on duty said that on warm days, a majority of the park's cash take comes from visitors who make a trip out of it.

"On hot, hot days it's a lot of people from outside the area," said Head Lifeguard Jason Algra.

Adam Gomez drove from Jackson to meet his family here.

"It's nice here, slides are nice, there's a lot of people here, got a lot of lifeguards here," Gomez said.

The park that's called ELFAC, short for East Lansing Family Aquatic Center is meeting a number of needs.

Jobs for young people sending even younger people sliding away, a place play with friends, and the place to escape into the blue for not too much green.

During the week the park is $5 for those who live in East Lansing, $7 for everyone else.