Sunny skies and warm weather provided the perfect backdrop for the long-awaited opening of Belle Plaine’s new aquatics center Saturday morning. Following a formal grand opening ceremony and public tours of the facility, the gates swung open for the first time on a totally renovated swimming facility in Franklin Park.

Mayor Jim Daily told the crowd that as a kid growing up in the Belle Plaine area, he swam in Salt Creek. City Administrator Bill Daily said the opening of the new facility serves as a reminder that residents should “Never underestimate the power of a small group of people and a broad base of support.” The $2.5 million center was funded through a bond issue, a state Community Attraction and Tourism Grant and numerous private donations. The funding sources are on permanent display on a granite marker in front of the totally remodeled bath house.

Bill Daily also said that the new center showed that Belle Plaine is a “proactive community.” He said there are 947 cities and towns in the state now and he asked how many would be around in future years.

With members of the city council, park board, several state legislators and Belle Plaine Community Development Board on hand, Mayor Daily cut the ribbon signaling the opening of the facility. Those in attendance were then able to take guided tours of the center, which includes a renovated bath house, a large water slide, two diving boards and a zero depth entrance for toddlers and their parents. There are many lounge chairs on the deck and in the future, a grassy area for more lounging will be open.

The first person off the diving board was seven-year-old Ben Stewart, who won a raffle for the honor. After a slight delay to fix a small pump problem, six-year-old Andrew Hudson, another raffle winner, was the first swimmer down the water slide. Well over 400 swimmers went through the gates on opening day. Parks and Rec Director Joel Formanek says that’s nearly twice as many as any day last year.

The names of donors are displaced on a granite marker in front of the bath house.

Water basketball is a feature of the new aquatics center.

A zero depth entrance is great for the younger set.

Mayor Jim Daily cut the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the center as local officials looked on.