Zooming runs through screwy flume means floods of fun
By SHANNON TAN
Published April 13, 2004
LARGO - Bring your swimsuits and take the plunge.
When the Highland Family Aquatic Center opens Saturday, residents will be able to use its 214-foot corkscrew slide, the largest in Pinellas County. There's also a three-lane lap pool that will be used for water aerobics, volleyball and basketball classes.
The lap pool and the slides were funded through a $200,000 anonymous private donation and a $200,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant, said Mary Nolen, assistant director of the recreation, parks and arts department.
"This will allow older children an opportunity to be more active," said Nolen. "And it'll be more fun."
An Olympic-sized pool was demolished to make way for the aquatic center. The first phase of the aquatic center expansion opened in the spring of 2001. It features a zero-depth pool with six slides, a water playground and water cannons. The center will be open Saturdays and Sundays until May 19, when it will be open every day. The center will open to the public Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and 4 to 6 p.m. Overflow parking is available at Largo City Hall, 200 N. Highland Ave.
The Highland Family Aquatic Center's grand opening is Saturday at 11 a.m., 400 N. Highland Ave. For more information, call 518-3018. It costs $3 if you have a Largo resident recreation card, $4 if you have a non-resident recreation card, and $6 for everyone else.
