It's still safe to get in the water at Bishop Park

By Jennifer Johnson | news@onlineathens.com | Story updated at 11:55 pm on 7/1/2009

Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Sunday, June 07, 2009

Thomas Ehlers never had shared a swimming pool with a shark before, and he wasn't sure about the proper etiquette.

"Do we have to avoid the shark?" 6-year-old Thomas asked Myla Neal, an administrator for Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services.

"No, he's not a real shark. He's a fun shark, so you shouldn't beat up on him," said Neal.

Thomas and his brothers, Andrew, 4, and Coles, 8, still gave the blue inflatable shark wide berth until their mother, Sarah, swam under its gaping jaw.

Bishop Park's Imitation Ocean - which runs through Friday - turned the pool into an open sea scene to challenge young swimmers' creativity and give Leisure Services a way to kick off Recreation and Parks Month.

Workers roped off a section of the water and filled the bottom with plastic and motorized fish, a giant clamshell, sea turtles, glass stones, dolphins, seahorses and whirling jellyfish to transform the ordinary pool into a deep-sea experience for the young kids.

"We come here every day for swim team," said Sarah Ehlers. "My 4-year-old just learned how to swim, and he's been talking about this all week. 'Mom, is today when we get to swim with the fishes?'"

On opening day, only a handful of kids and their parents chased after fish and played water games.

Ila mom Kenna Allen held on to Emma, 2, as they retrieved bobbing starfish and turtles from the surface.

Five-year-old Alexander Changus had a more challenging task.

"I'm going to dive for more ocean worms," he said, flinging a rubber worm back into the pool.

Leisure Services workers didn't intend the Imitation Ocean to be educational - just a place for kids to splash around with their parents for a different kind of close-to-home vacation.

Lori Changus, from Tallahassee, Fla., was in town with son Alexander and 8-year-old daughter Quinn.

"It's so cute. We don't live in Athens, so this is a real treat for us," she said. "The kids were really anxious to get in the water."

Part of the $3 admission fee for the Imitation Ocean paid for new snorkels that the kids borrowed.

"Are the goggles going to scare the fish away?" 4-year-old Andrew Ehlers asked.
Though the fake fish were undaunted, after a few minutes in the water, most kids exchanged the snorkels for regular swim goggles so they could dive to the bottom and retrieve glass stones and sunken fish.

"They're having a big time on their 'rescue missions,' " Changus said.

Though the organizers were disappointed with the initial turnout, they are hopeful about attracting families with young kids to the sessions today and Friday.
The Imitation Ocean will be open today and Friday from 11 a.m. to noon and 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Bishop Park, 705 Sunset Drive. Admission is $3 per person. Register by calling (706) 613-3580.



Originally published in the Athens Banner-Herald on Thursday, July 02, 2009