BEATRICE – Saturday is traditionally opening day for the Big Blue Water Park in Beatrice…but cool weather altered those plans.....pushing the opening to Tuesday, at the earliest.   Temperatures were expected in the 60s and low 70s for the holiday weekend, with rain and possibly thunderstorms in the forecast throughout the three days.


"If you look back last week, there were some pretty warm days...now this week, it's been pretty cool for the last two or three days, and a little bit rainy, which was good. We really do need that. It's kind of the mark of the summer...Memorial Day...we open the Big Blue Water Park. It will be ready to go. I know it's under great management and the lifeguards are ready.....so, let's go swim."


Mayor Bob Morgan says there was a marginal rate increase for season passes this year, after several years of keeping rates stable.  "In this world, the way it's been over the last couple of years, certainly people need a pay raise. We had to make sure we covered those pay raises and do the right thing, for the staff that we have."


The City of Beatrice, going into this pool season, has approved a proposal from a Kansas City, Kansas firm…Waters Edge Aquatic Design…to help put together a master plan for the future of water park facilities in Beatrice.  "When you look at aquatic parks, or water parks, or swimming pools...whatever you want to call them...you're also seeing changes of what people want, over the past 25 years. If you look at new designs versus old designs, you really do see a lot of differences in the features that come with water parks."


A component of the master plan to be formulated is obtaining public input in the process.  "Expand what we have....is it best to start over, and if you do, how do you do that. I think it's just a good time to take a step back and plan....and do a master plan to see what it's going to look like. I will say there's going to be at least two public sessions where they want you're input. What I've seen over the last four years, there's not a lot of people that go to these public open houses, so I would say this is a great opportunity, when they are announced....to go and give your input."


Morgan says officials of the Kansas City firm also plan to observe the current water park operation this season and after it closes for the season in August.


Big Blue Water Park hours are 12:30 to 7:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday….and 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Friday through Sunday. The park is located at 1200 Scott Street.