Region's water parks opening with precautions in place

Magic Springs water park, near Hot Springs, Ark., opens on Monday. Holiday Springs Water Park in Texarkana, Ark., is open, with sanitizing and distancing guidelines in place.
Magic Springs water park, near Hot Springs, Ark., opens on Monday. Holiday Springs Water Park in Texarkana, Ark., is open, with sanitizing and distancing guidelines in place.

With Holiday Springs Water Park already open and Magic Springs Theme and Water Park set to open soon, water park lovers will have options to quench their thirst for summertime fun.

Near Hot Springs, Arkansas, Magic Springs starts its 2020 season Monday with business reopening guidelines set in place by the Arkansas governor. Because of COVID-19, operations at the park will include social distancing and sanitizing measures, according to a news release about the park's summer season start.

"The safety of our guests has always been our No 1 priority," said Jack Bateman, general manager at the park, in a statement about the park, adding, "We want to do our part to keep everyone safe while they enjoy their summer at the Thrill Capital of Arkansas."

The water park will make hand sanitizer available and encourages visitors to bring masks for dining inside. As well, park staff ask that visitors make online purchases in advance of visiting the park, which has rides, pools and water slides ready for park-goers.

Magic Springs special weekly events include Meet-a-Mermaid Mondays, Wacky Wednesdays and Dive-In Movie Fridays.

The park also requests that people who've felt COVID-19 symptoms themselves or been in the presence of someone sick to refrain from visiting the park. Find out more at MagicSprings.com/COVID-19.php.

Here in Texarkana, Holiday Springs water park opened this past weekend. Hours for the season are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily apart from Sundays, when the hours are noon to 6 p.m.

Announced changes in light of the coronavirus health crisis include six-feet social distancing, disinfection of "high touch" areas, spreading out tables and chairs with grass lawn seating, employee screening, barriers for social distancing at the ticket and concessions locations and more, as announced at the park's page on Facebook.

(On the Net: Facebook.com/HolidaySpringsWaterPark and Facebook.com/magicsprings.)

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