Let’s hear it for swimming season

It was wonderful to get the opportunity to attend the ribbon cutting for Red Bay Water Park. If you didn’t read our story, I know you might be thinking, “Why is the water park having a ribbon cutting? Hasn’t it been open for years?” – and you would be right. But the park has officially opened for another summer, complete with a brand-new pool house. And let me tell you, folks, it is outstanding. I know the Red Bay community is proud of this new facility, and they should be. It’s a great addition to the fun park out there.

I loved going to swim in the summer when growing up. In my hometown, we didn’t have a water park, but we did have a KOA with a twisty slide. Man, those were the days. I have vivid memories of spending long afternoons at that pool, with Laffy Taffy as my snack of choice. We also lived 45 minutes from a fantastic state park that had more than one perfect spot for soaking and splashing in nature’s swimming pools. When I was in middle school, we would go to the YMCA, and in high school, it was the lake. At every stage of life, I had reasonably available access to a place to get wet and wild during those hot summer months.

(Actually, not very wild – if you’ve met me, you’re probably thinking I can’t have much of a wild bone in my body, and again, you would be right.)

But not every kid has access to these kinds of activities.

I’m so glad kids in Franklin County do.

Whether it’s the splash pad in Phil Campbell, the city pool in Russellville or Red Bay’s water park, there are great spot across this county for children to beat the heat. These are truly community assets that I hope we all value. They provide perfect locations for our kids to have positive fun and make summer memories that will last a lifetime. Not every family can afford to take a faraway trip to a major water park; thanks to these great facilities right here at home, they don’t have to.