Gardner, KS
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Gardner Aquatic Center
Rules, Regulations and Policies
- Air temperature must be 72 degrees outside at the time of opening
- To help us assure your child’s safety, children ages 11 and under must be accompanied by a person 14 years of age or older.
- All persons entering the pool enclosure, including supervising adults, must pay the appropriate fees.
- People under the influence of alcohol or drugs will not be admitted.
- In case of rash, skin disease, or open sores, a written statement from a physician will be required before admission is granted.
- If a patron leaves for any reason, they must get a stamp to re-enter.
- Management reserves the right to change or shorten pool hours due to inclement weather.
- Refunds will not be given.
- NO pets are allowed in the facility at any given time, this includes pool staff pets.
- Smoking or use of tobacco is not permitted, this includes vapes of any kind.
- Patrons should not loiter or play near land or water entries. This includes entrance gates, handicap access, entrances to the water, all ladders, stairs, and rails.
- The Gardner Parks and Recreation Department, the City of Gardner, or the pool staff is not responsible for the loss of personal belongings.
- Management reserves the right to review, change and establish rules as deemed necessary.
- No person shall photograph or videotape an unrelated person(s) without their consent and the consent of a legal guardian for those under 18 years of age. To protect the privacy of all patrons, the use of recording devices (cameras, video cameras, and cell phones) is not permitted in the locker room or restroom areas.
- Discipline policy: click here for GAC's General Discipline Policy.
- Glass containers of any kind are not permitted in the facility.
- Please keep all food and drink away from the pool edge. No gum or sunflower seeds are allowed in the pool.
- Alcohol is not permitted within the facility or park at any time.
- Food and beverages of any kind are not permitted in any of the pools.
- This excludes bottled water.
- No running.
- Boisterousness, profanity, and roughness are prohibited within the pool facility. Overt displays of affection are not allowed within the pool facility.
- Do not play, sit or stand on ropes.
- Lifejackets are allowed in all areas of the pool, except on the slides. Arm floaties may be used in the kiddie pool only. All other flotation devices are prohibited. Water toys are subject to the approval of pool staff. Inner tubes provided for the slides and lazy river must remain in those areas ONLY.
- Proper swimsuit attire must be worn at all times. Cut-offs, thongs, t-shirts or other swimsuits determined inappropriate by management will not be permitted.
- Paper or cloth diapers are prohibited in the pool. Swim diapers are available for purchase at the concession stand. Diapers must be changed at the diaper changing stations in the locker rooms or restrooms.
- Combination locks can be brought from home or purchased at the concession stand.
- Please remove locks at the end of the day.
- Locks left on lockers will be cut off at the end of the day and items will be removed and donated to charity.
- Hanging on or slamming locker doors is prohibited.
- Please do not loiter or play near the locker area.
- Gardner Aquatic Center staff is not responsible for the loss of personal belongings.
MAIN WATER SLIDES (Large Slides)
For safety reasons, pregnant women and persons with heart conditions or back trouble should not ride these slides.
- Must be at least 48 inches tall in order to go down the slides.
- Maximum operational loads: Single tube load is one person, 300 pounds. The double tube load is two persons, 600 pounds.
- In a double tube, the heavier rider should sit behind the lighter rider.
- Tubes should be ridden in a seated position while leaning back, facing forward. Do not stand up or ride the tube on your stomach.
- Riders must stay on the tube during the ride. If the rider accidentally falls from the tube, continue down the slide without it and exit normally.
- Water Depth is 3’ 10".
- Lifejackets are not permitted on the waterslides.
- No swim goggles or aqua socks/shoes.
- Swimwear with buckles or any other oversized metal ornamentation will not be allowed on the slides. This includes the front and back of a swimsuit.
- No oversized jewelry is allowed on the slides.
- Only one person at a time may go down the slide.
- Parental or adult supervision is recommended. Parents are not allowed to stand at the bottom of the slide to catch their child. The child must be able to swim to the steps. Non-swimmers are not permitted.
- No head-first sliding.
- Do not use these slides while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
- Follow the instructions of the slide attendant.
- No running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, or stopping on the slide.
- Only one person at a time. Forming "chains" is prohibited.
- Keep both hands & feet inside the slide at all times.
- No diving from the slide.
- Leave the slide pool promptly after entering.
- Slide lying on back, feet first only.
- Rider assumes all risk of injury due to misuse of these slides or failure to follow these rules.
- Water depth is 3’ 4".
- Swimwear with buckles or any other oversized metal ornamentation will not be allowed on the slide. This includes on the front and back of a swimsuit.
- No oversized jewelry is allowed on the slide.
- Slide is intended for parents and small children only. Parental supervision is required.
- Up to three people may go down the slide at the same time. The slide attendant has the right to lower this number under special circumstances.
- Slide is for going down only, no climbing or stopping.
- Slide in a forward seating position, feet first. DO NOT slide head first.
- When exiting the slide, immediately leave the landing area.
- No horseplay allowed.
- Please enter and exit the lazy river only in designated areas
- Riders must remain in tubes at all times.
- One rider per single tube, two riders per double tube.
- No swimming or walking allowed in the lazy river.
- No horseplay on tubes (pushing, rocking, hitting, flipping, etc.)
- No diving anywhere along the river.
- Riders must be at least 48" tall or accompanied by an adult.
- Minimum height requirement is 48" tall.
- Swimmers are NOT allowed in the fall zone.
- One person at a time on the lily pads.
- No pulling or tugging on the rope, cargo net, or lily pads while waiting in line.
- Swimmers must exit the lily pad area immediately when falling off.
- For your safety, swimming underwater in the lily pad area is not allowed.
- Do not swim under the rope into the lazy river. That area is for tube riders only!
- Diving is allowed from diving boards only.
- One person on the diving board at a time.
- Multiple bouncing on the diving board is prohibited.
- No horseplay allowed.
- Must dive or jump straight out from the board.
- Enter the diving area only from the diving board.
- No back-dives, handstands, somersaults, or gainers off board and/or pool deck. Any jump that causes a change in the direction you are jumping is not permitted.
- Do not go off board until the person ahead is safely out of the area.
- After going off the board, swim to the nearest ladder immediately.
- Do not hang on gutters in the deep end.
- Swimming under the board toward the back wall is not allowed.
- Goggles are not permitted while using the diving board.
- Lifejackets may be worn if approved by a lifeguard, but the diver must still be able to swim to a ladder.
- Players must be in the water to participate.
- No rough play.
- Ball must stay within the general area. Lifeguard has the right to stop the game or remove the ball from the water.
- This area is for children ages 4 and under only.
- Each child must be accompanied by an adult.
- Paper or cloth diapers are prohibited in the pool. Swim diapers are available for purchase at the concession stand. Diapers must be changed at the diaper changing stations in the locker rooms or restrooms.
- Arm floaties are allowed in the kiddie pool only. Lifejackets are allowed in any pool.
Gardner Aquatic Center is subject to early closing if low attendance (10 patrons or less in a two-hour period), weather warrants, or for a special Program. The aquatic center will close whenever projected high air temperatures for the day are below 72 degrees. If outside temperatures drop below 70 degrees during open swim, the pool will be closed. Lightning poses a serious risk of injury at aquatic facilities. Due to the seriousness of this issue, the following policy has been developed for aquatic facilities managed by the Parks and Recreation Department. When inclement weather occurs, including but not limited to: rain, wind lightning, and/or severe conditions(tornado, thunderstorm watch/warnings) that compromise the safety of the patrons or staff, the water will be cleared, staff will remain at the facility and attempt to reopen as soon as possible. If it is not feasible to reopen after 90 minutes, the pool will close with the possibility of reopening at 4:00 p.m. If weather conditions do not improve or still remain a threat, the Gardner Aquatic Center will remain closed for the rest of the day.
When lightning comes within 10 miles of Gardner Aquatic Center, all patrons will be asked to exit the water and management will continue to monitor weather conditions. At this time, no additional patrons will be admitted into the aquatic center until the all-clear is given. If lightning hits within 5 miles of the facility, all patrons will be asked to immediately exit the facility to allow staff to take cover. Once lightning presents over 10 miles away for at least 30 minutes, management will have staff return to their stations and give the all clear. At this time, patrons will be welcome back in the facility/water.
We have a ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY regarding any behavioral issues and safety violations. Any pool patron who knowingly refuses to follow facility rules shall be asked to leave the facility immediately. Major rule violations or any deliberate safety violation shall also result in the immediate dismissal of a pool patron. Any discipline issue that requires police assistance will result in that patron’s dismissal from the Gardner Aquatic Center for the duration of the season with no refund to their pool pass.
For minor disciplinary issues, the following procedures shall be followed:
1. The patron shall be politely addressed and informed of the concern
2. The patron shall be given another warning or asked to sit out (depending on the situation and/or the patron’s age)
3. The patron shall be dismissed for the remainder of the day (or sit out a final time depending on the situation and/or the patron’s age)
4. If the patron does not leave after being asked, the police shall be called
When a patron has been asked to leave the facility, the following schedule shall be followed:
1. First offense: Dismissed for the remainder of the day
2. Second offense: Dismissed for 1 week
3. Third offense: Dismissed for 3 weeks
4. Fourth offense: Dismissed for the season with no refund to pool pass