Despite a few early issues with Mother Nature, the debut of Cranberry's newly renovated waterpark has been a splashing success.
“We just love it,” said Sherry Cusatis of Cranberry as she relaxed by the pool with her son, Cody, on a sunny and busy Thursday afternoon. “It was nice before, but they really took it to another level.”
That level includes one of the new featured attractions, the giant dump bucket that periodically douses swimmers in the zero-depth entry portion of that pool. The bucket has quickly become a favorite among the younger crowd.
“It is great to see the young kids counting down as the bucket gets ready to dump,” said David Hutner, recreation program manager for the township. “Then to hear the squeals when it does, that is the sound of pure joy. It doesn't get any better than that.”
Cody Cusatis was not sure if the bucket or the improved spiral slide was his favorite feature.
“I like them both,” Cody said.
After a one-week delay to put the finishing touches on the $1.7 million in renovations, the waterpark in Cranberry's North Boundary Park officially opened on June 4. Despite some cloudy skies, a crowd turned out for the debut.
“I was a little surprised, there were a lot of people here,” Cusatis said. “And the weather really wasn't that bad.”
Cool weather might have limited the crowds for parts of the first week, forcing cancellation of a morning swim lesson a couple times, but according to township Manager Jerry Andree, response to the improvements has been overwhelmingly positive.
“From the feedback we have gotten, people are just ecstatic,” Andree said.
That includes Maureen Folino of Cranberry, who said she and her family were there for opening day and have been back several times.
“They did a great job,” Folino said. “I like the way they separated the main pool and baby pool, and the new umbrellas and in-pool seats are really nice. This has to be the nicest pool in the entire area.”
Cusatis said she and her family moved to Cranberry from the Philadelphia area last summer.
“We had a nice little pool in our housing plan, but it was nothing compared to this,” Cusatis said.
“It has everything you could want. It's safe, it is always clean, and the people are friendly.”
On Saturday, the township will hold an official grand opening celebration, with special events scheduled throughout the day.
Hutner said there will be a live band providing entertainment, inflatables, arts and crafts projects for children and more.
“We want people to come out and see everything we have done here,” Hutner said. “We could not be happier with how everything turned out.”
Vince Townley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at 724-772-6364 or vtownley@tribweb.com.
