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East Bay Regional Park District is saying that annual inspections done last month show that the waterslides at Shadow Cliffs park are not safe enough to open this summer.
“It became quite apparent there were a number of problem areas that had to be addressed,” said Park District Board Member Ayn Wieskamp, who represents Pleasanton. “At the meeting last month everyone agreed that there was simply no way we could do all the repairs that need to be done and be open for this season. From electrical to the waterslides themselves, there are water issues, rust issues, upheavals, basic safety issues.”
Operator Glenn Kierstad, who opened the Rapids Waterslides in 1981, said the inspections are normally done in the fall, listing anything to be improved, then again in the spring after the cleanup has been completed in time for the May opening.
“We’ve always passed state inspections with flying colors,” Kierstad said, but last fall the Park District only told him to remove most of the materials used to operate the waterslides.
“This year they did inspections and took pictures in late December, early January, when the slide looked as bad as it could possibly look,” Kierstad said. “They came up with a number of violations, some I agree with, some I don’t.”
Kierstad said it is his opinion that the Park District wants the slides closed, which is why it implemented this new method of inspection, coming up with an estimate of $400,00 to fix everything. He expects that repairs could be made for much less, although he is not allowed to see the inspection reports until the week before the Park District Board of Directors meeting March 15.
At that meeting, staff members will present approximated costs to continue the waterslides, and the Board of Directors will make a recommendation to the full board, depending on public concerns and the economics of the park.
“If we come up with a cost, we may say, ‘All right, maybe it’s worth doing,'” Wieskamp said. “We could go out with a request for proposals, we could check that out, I have no objections.”
“It all comes down to what it costs,” she added. “Can we afford to do it, and how long would it be used.”
She said the Park District is spending half a million dollars each year to make sure everything district-wide is ADA-accessible and this would be another cost with the waterslides.
Kierstad estimated that the parking and concession revenue ranges between $70,000 and $90,000 per year. Rapids Waterslides employs a staff of 35, with the majority in high school and college, and has had a perfect safety record for the last 30 years, he added.
“We sell 26,000 tickets a year, and give away to charities and with coupons another 2,000,” he said.
“I have a financial interest in keeping it open, but above that it’s one of the only facilities in their park system that caters to young adults and children,” Kierstad said.
“We’re in limbo,” said Jane Jones, office manager at Rapids Waterslides. “At this point we’d be taking new applications, the workers would start cutting the bushes, scrubbing and painting and getting the place ready.”
She said school groups already have contacted her to reserve the waterslides for their end-of-year parties in May.
Kierstad’s 20-year lease for Rapids Waterslides expired in 2006. Since then the Park District has continued the operating agreement on a one- or two-year lease.
“During that timeframe, we were instructed not to make any major improvements on the slides because EBRPD was preparing a Land-Use Plan that would determine the fate of the waterslides,” Kierstad reported.
Last year after the Park District held a hearing on its Land Use Plan that calls for an eventual closing of the waterslides, it decided to keep the slides open for the short term. The plan for Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area also calls for improving the overall trail system; developing multi-use recreational trails to allow access into the western areas; and installing more picnic sites and shade shelters for family picnicking within the waterfront area.
The March 15 East Bay Regional Park District Board Operations Committee meeting is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. at the EBRPD headquarters, 2950 Peralta Oaks Court in Oakland.
I sincerely hope they don’t close the slides. I have so many great memories of that place, some of my best growing up. I hope the Parks District recognizes that it is a Pleasanton staple, and I think it definitely increases traffic to Shadow Cliffs overall.
I just sent an e-mail to Ms. Wieskamp asking her to please consider keeping the water slides at Shadow Cliffs open. Her e-mail is awieskamp@ebparks.org. Please send her an e-mail to encourage her and her colleagues to be open to any repair proposals that make financial sense and would enable the water slides to be open this summer.
The park district declared last year their goal was to shut down the slides and replace them with an intrepretive center. I’m sure that will draw the crowds from around the area. They won’t give the operator a long lease so that they can improve what they have and have a chance to recover their costs. This is just their latest ploy to shut the place down. I wonder if they are considering the parking revenue they will lose from closing the slides down.
Keep the slides! Our kids (in my case grandkids) need them.
Government stikes again. Wish they would just go away and leave us alone. This is the hidden cost of big government. Too many employees with nothing to do but control what we do. Ever worked for a big company, the analogy is the people from corporate who come around to “help”.
Please keep the slide open. It is the best, most fun and affordable summer activity for my young children.
No ice arena, for winter or summer fun. Now no water slide for summer fun. What are our children and grandchildren suppose to do, stay home and play vidio games all day? Stand on street corners and do drugs. When I was young , we could roam the world. We had no cell phones or T Vs. We earned our parents trust by showing we were responsible, We were able to roam the hills and the creeks. Now there are no trespassing signs every where. I know to much liability. We have so programed our children that they have to be entertained that they are lost without outside help. Now days we can’t trust our children to not get themselves in trouble. There will be no place they can go and be under some kind of supervision. They need to exersize and be outside having fun. Roaming the mall is also not the answer. I know kids that all they do is roam around with their friends not having a place to go and have fun.
OldTimer, You hit the nail on the head! Funny how last year the slides were fine but now they’re unsafe.
It’s sad when government agencies decide to put something out of business under the guise of “someday we might have a better use for the property.” By going to a year-to-year lease, the operator can not barrow the required capital to do meaningful improvements, talented employees flee to more stable jobs, etc… With cut backs in government funds, many planned projects will not be able to be funded. Why not keep what’s working in place until government actually has the money in hand to build what it wants to. After all, isn’t it “the people’s resources” we are talking about!
You are right Tango, with the video games. Maybe the park district will include a video game in the interpretive center that mimics kids sliding down a waterslide. We talk about our concern for obesity in kids, then we take away something that gives them exercise. That hike to the top of the waterslide uses up a lot of calories. I just can’t imagine much exercise in an interpretive center.
Did we all forget all of us voted just a couple years ago $500 million went to the EBRPD? Get real, they have the money – unless their new helicopter and many, many land aquisitions emptied the funds.
I’m just relieved no lefty loons have started quacking about water conservation and global warming. Has anyone suggested maybe opening the property to a Walmart maybe? I’d love to have another Walmart as an option to so many high priced grocery stores in the area.
Worried about your kids spending too much time playing video games and watching TV? Simple solution…don’t buy them, and just say no and stick to it. Instead go for a walk or hike at Shadow Cliffs , or any of our beautiful parks. Pack a picnic, go swimming, take a bike ride. There are many other options for families to spend time together.
Wow, I can hardly wait for that Interpretive Center to open — Right!!
I can just hear my grandchildren, “Please Grandpa, don’t make us go to the Interpretive Center again!”
Thanks, Kelly. Just sent my email to Ms. Wieskamp at awieskamp@ebparks.org to implore the park district to work with Shadow Cliffs to make their typical summer opening happen, along with the reasons why.
No special treatment, no intervention, no bailout…. this is the true American business model that ensures the survival of only the leanest and most deserving of companies!
Here we go again….TOO MUCH GOVERNMENT! STAY OUT OF OUR BUSINESS…WE PAY SO MUCH DAMN MONEY IN TAXES…WHY DOESN’T THE CITY GET RID OF SOME WASTEFUL EMPLOYEE POSITIONS….TWO ADMINS FOR ONE POSITION WITHIN THE CITY? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Grandma get real. Back in your day that might work, not today. Shadow Cliffs isn’t the only problem.The swim center on Black Ave. will be closed as well. Why isn’t anybody getting to work on these projects now? It’s not like it’s raining everyday. Come on people, lets get moving. Lets not set our children up for failure because we’re too lazy to do it now.
With the draught and all, the reservoirs are low and many of the streams are all but dried up. It’s imperative we put our water to good use. Water may not be available at all next year. We should put our kids’ pleasure first.
What is the compensation package for say… a Park District Board Member? Is it primarily a volunteer job? Just trying to connect some dots here.
The slides have been a great asset to families of the TriValley, please keep them open for future generations to enjoy.
It will be truely heartbreaking if the slides are closed permanently. I grew up in Dublin, and we held family reunions at the park for several years, I know so many people have fantastic memories of times spent here. There aren’t that many entertainment options around that both young kids and adults can enjoy – let’s put some dollars and effort into keeping this one alive.