MOUNT VERNON — Since the reopening of the Hiawatha Water Park/Pool in 2007, the pool has been a theme park of excitement. Community members from in and around Mount Vernon have utilized the pool, creating a center for summer aquatic fun.

Pool director Jerry Clinger said the water park can have up to 1,500 guests in one day, and has a lot of out-of-town visitors on the weekends.

“When it’s warm and sunny, people are always out here,” he said. “On the weekdays it’s mostly local residents, but over the weekend we get a lot of phone calls from people asking for directions on how to get here. We’ve gotten people from Lexington, Mount Gilead, Marion and Delaware.”

One big attraction for pool guests are the water slides at the north side of the park. Also this year, attracting mothers and their babies, are the new frog slide and lemon drop fountains at the baby pool.

“It used to be a dead space with no one really utilizing the baby pool, so we wanted to spice it up; it’s been a huge success,” said Clinger.

kenesha.beheler@mountvernonnews.com