Local waterparks and pools provide coolest waters in Southwest Florida

Emma Behrmann, Naples Daily News
·3 min read

Note to readers: Welcome to "Heat Week." This is the fifth story in a seven-part series The News-Press and Naples Daily News are doing this week, taking a closer look at all things heat. Florida has been experiencing extreme and historic heat this summer, on land and in the water, and weather forecasters are predicting more intense temperatures as the summer continues.

Today's story focuses on water temperatures at water parks and community pools in Southwest Florida. Just how cool is the water at these places and what is the process for monitoring and even changing the temperature of the water?

As Gulf of Mexico water temperatures reach all-time highs, cooling off this summer presents a larger challenge than usual.

Outside temperatures exceed 90 degrees daily, and the feels-like (heat index) reaches into the hundreds. Coastal waters used to serve as a typical cool-off location, but in many places the waters are hot, too.

What is called a marine heat wave ravages the peninsula's coasts, warming waters to 95-97 degrees Fahrenheit and contributing to the record-setting air temperatures.

As Southwest Floridians struggle to escape the extreme heat, local water parks and public pools may provide refuge with chilling systems that cool waters once they reach a certain temperature.

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How cool is the water in Lee County public pools?

Lee County offers five community pools, four are open: Lehigh Acres, Pine Island, North Fort Myers and San Carlos. Daily admission ranges from $2-$3 per person, but six-month and yearly passes are available as well as a senior pass.

The temperature of the pools range between 84 and 86 degrees on an annual basis, county spokesperson Betsy Clayton said. Once water reaches above 84 degrees, a commercial-grade chilling system cools the water similar to an air-conditioning unit.

Lanes for laps promise cool exercise. Blue plastic slides plunge riders into waters nearly 10 degrees cooler than those at the local beaches.

South of Lee, Collier County offers similar water temperatures.

How cool is the water at Collier County's aquatic parks?

Collier provides the community with five aquatic parks:

  • Sun-N-Fun Lagoon

  • Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park

  • Golden Gate Aquatic Facility

  • Immokalee Sports Complex

  • Vineyards Community Park

Visitors can slide, dive or swim in water that remains in the mid-80s year-round.

This average water temperature is mechanically heated or cooled based upon the season to maintain an average water temperature, said Tanya Williams, head of public services at Collier Parks and Recreation.

Visitors can escape the heat in a winding lazy river, take a spin down five water slides and cool off in four pools at Sun-N-Fun Lagoon. Entrance fees are between $6 and $13.

Or, kids can slip down two slides and await a water bucket to fill and drench them at the aquatic complex at Donna Fiala Eagle Lakes Community Park, which also includes three pools and two diving boards.

Orange and yellow swirly slides plunge riders into a mid-80-degree pool at Golden Gate Aquatic Facility. Diving boards and splash pads entertain children.

The aquatic center at Immokalee Sports Complex has a pool kept at that same mid-80-degree temperature.

Kids can splash around in a water feature at Vineyards Community Park, but there is no pool.

Daily admission for the county aquatic parks, besides Sun-N-Fun Lagoon ranges from free for kids to $2 for adults. Annual and three-month passes are also available.

SunSplash in Cape Coral

Located on Santa Barbara Boulevard in Cape Coral, a lazy river and a swath of slides to choose from grants SunSplash visitors a reprieve from the heat.

The family water park doesn't have a cooling system for its attractions and pools, said Ron Mckenzie ProParks Group spokesperson.

"We do not have any systems that cools the water," Mckenzie said. "Yet the temperature remains very comfortable due primarily to the fact that it is constantly moving and circulating throughout the park."

Emma Behrmann is a breaking news reporter for The Naples Daily News and News-Press. You may reach her at EBehrmann@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @emmabehrmann.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Community pools, water parks in Naples, Cape Coral offer heat relief