Rain forces quick end to Collier water park's first day

Residents who went to Sun-N-Fun Lagoon Wednesday got drenched both by one million gallons of water and by rain as well.

The opening of the water park, owned and operated by Collier County Parks and Recreation, was nine years in the making, but nobody could predict Mother Nature. Fifteen minutes after letting a crowd of approximately 600 through the gates, lightning, thunder and sporadic rain had lifeguards whistling wet children and their parents into the locker rooms or back to their cars.

Most of the visitors tried to hang out underneath the entryway, anticipating a short rain delay before they could get back in one of three water slides, a lazy river, a splash playground and four pools.

Yahia Lashhab, of Bonita Springs, brought his three daughters to the park after hearing about the grand opening.

"We weren't sure if we were going to get in, but we got in quickly," Lashhab said. He was huddled with his three girls: 7-year-old Jenna, 8-year-old Hanna and 10-year-old Sarra.

The girls tested out the lazy river, but were disappointed that it rained because they wanted to try out the other attractions.

"That's all we could get to," Sarra Lashhab said.

The family said they will come to the water park as often as they can this summer to enjoy the rest of the amenities.

Hanna Lashhab wanted to go in Turtle Cove, a children's activity pool featuring large plastic lily pads, and a net above, resembling a jungle gym, where children try to step on the lily pads and grab the net above them to move from lily pad to lily pad without splashing into the water.

"We'll wait for the rain and go finish the day," Lashhab said.

According to Camden Smith, public information coordinator, the park was able to open back up about 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday, two hours after the rain delay began. The park then closed 45-minutes later, at its regularly scheduled closing time.

"Unfortunately we can't control mother nature," Smith said.

Smith was happy that after nine years of planning, the water park was able to open on time without a hitch, except for the rain, which was out of anybody's hands, she said.

"People got enough of a taste," Smith said, adding many would be back the next day to get a rain check on the prior day's event that allowed Collier County residents free admission for the opening.

The crew at Collier County Parks and Recreation were amazed by the good turnout, especially since they all noticed the clouds rolling in shortly before the park opened up for the first time to the public. The feedback they received for the short time they were up and running was better than anticipated, Smith said.

"I'm surprised we had as good of a turnout. Unfortunately, it's raining," Smith said around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Residents in Collier County wanted an alternative to busy beaches, and someplace safe for their children to go, and that sparked the initiative to build Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, Smith said.

Jana Harberts, of Naples, said its a huge improvement in Naples to have something for the children to do.

"It's a good place for the whole family to come to," Harberts said. She brought her daughter, seven-year-old Jarene.

Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, located off Livingston Road just a few miles south of Bonita Springs, offers interactive water features such as water pistols and dumping buckets; a family pool; toddler wading pool; the children's activity pool; a pool for swimming laps and diving; a lazy river; and three water slides 38 feet in the air, one which dumps into the lazy river.

The park also has concessions with food and drinks for sale and restroom and locker room facilities.

Saturday is the water park's official grand opening and there will be a ribbon-cutting at 9:30 a.m. at the front gates.