Screams were heard from the entrance of the East Lansing Family Aquatic Center as kids jumped off a diving board and swished through slides Friday.
An inflatable pirate stood among blow-up palm trees as children participated in a treasure hunt, sidewalk chalk drawing contest and bean bag toss at the center's "The Pirates of East Lansing Family Aquatic Center" activity day.
"In order to keep the facility a fun place to visit in the summer, we have to have fun events … that's also a way to thank the patrons who come out almost every day," said Jim Jennings, East Lansing's sports and athletics coordinator.
The center, 6400 Abbott Road, which usually hosts crowds of 300 on a weekday and up to 600 on a Saturday or Sunday, had about 200 people attend the activities.
"All the events are very, very dependent on the weather," said Lindsay Pierce, a manager at the center. "Today's really nice, but it's kind of on the chilly side, especially compared to the hotter days."
The cooler weather didn't keep kids from participating in the activities and taking advantage of the center's staples, such as a 190-foot water slide, interactive play structures and diving board.
For 9-year-old Hatim Shetian, the slides are his favorite part of the center.
"If you lay back, you can shoot down - and if you're taller than 3 feet, you can stand up at the end," he said of a water slide.
However, he didn't discount the water slide as he joined Dylan Beight, an 11-year-old East Lansing resident, on an inner tube made for two.
The boys made a goal to ride the slide 27 times that day, breaking Shetian's previous record of 25 rides. Beight also said the slides are his favorite part about the center, especially because he can ride them all day.
The boys agreed that coming to the center is one of their favorite parts of summer.
The center serves as an oasis from the summer heat and has become an important asset to the summer since it opened in 2001.
"(The community's reaction) always been very positive. The attendance has grown every year so we know the response has been overwhelming," said Jane Stone, the business manager for the center.
