Water Park Review
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Hartman said spacious private areas are available “ The River Boat Adventure ride twists and turns for more In many
ways, creating Morgan’s Inspiration Island feels a lot like it did when our team designed and built Morgan’s Wonderland with a focus on special- needs individuals – it’s never been done before
than fi ve minutes through a jungle setting with bird and animal sounds in the background. Five water play areas – Hang 10 Harbor, Rainbow Reef, Shipwreck Island, Harvey’s Hideaway Bay and Calypso Cove – offer a variety of splashy elements such as raintrees, falls, pools, geysers, jets, water cannons and tipping buckets. Just as is the case with Morgan’s Wonderland, every
Morgan’s Inspiration Island element is wheelchair-accessible, and waterproof wristbands with RFID technology are available so parents can go to a location station and easily ascertain the whereabouts of their children and other members of their party. Other special features include the capability of conditioning water to a warmer temperature at Rainbow Reef so guests with sensitivity to cold can still splash and play.
Game changing tech “In addition, we recently unveiled with the University of Pittsburgh revolutionary new wheelchairs propelled by compressed air,” Hartman said. “Our guests in expensive battery-powered wheelchairs can’t afford to get them wet, so we have special Morgan’s Inspiration Island PneuChairs available fi rst-come, fi rst-served, along with two other waterproof wheelchair models – a push-stroller type for guests needing assistance from a caregiver for mobility and a rigid- frame, manual wheelchair for guests who can push themselves. The fi rst PneuChairs to go into service are prototypes that are already undergoing signifi cant improvements.”
where guests can transfer out of their wheelchairs into Morgan’s Inspiration Island waterproof wheelchairs. Other facilities include the Rusty Anchor Galley Grub and Little Italy Bistro food outlets for snacks and beverages; the Surf Shack Gifts and Gear sundries shop offering items such as sunscreen and souvenirs; a panoramic viewing deck; an air-conditioned party/meeting room; and private cabanas for rent. He further pointed out that the splash park has been designed with water conservation in mind. Water used in the various play elements will be fi ltered continuously and recirculated, and it will be stored in huge underground concrete tanks when the park is not in operation. “Morgan’s Inspiration Island – like Morgan’s
Wonderland – will concentrate on inclusion and inspire guests with special needs to do things previously thought not to be in their range of capabilities,” he explained. “Those without disabilities and those with, including individuals in wheelchairs, guests with hearing and visual impairments and even guests on ventilators, will be able to play alongside each other and gain a greater appreciation of one another. “In many ways, creating Morgan’s Inspiration Island
feels a lot like it did when our team designed and built Morgan’s Wonderland with a focus on special-needs individuals – it’s never been done before. For the past three years, we’ve been collaborating with water park consultants from Texas, Arizona, Florida and Canada as well as local doctors, special-needs therapists, special- education teachers, parents and caregivers. We believe Morgan’s Inspiration Island will be tremendously popular because both children and adults in wheelchairs will be able to have fun in the South Texas sun.” Groundbreaking for Morgan’s Inspiration Island occurred
in November 2015, and construction began in January 2016. The new splash park becomes part of the growing family destination in the old Longhorn Quarry, now known as Wonderland, Texas, that includes Morgan’s Wonderland, The Academy at Morgan’s Wonderland school for students with special needs and the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute of TeletonUSA (CRIT USA), a non- profi t rehab center for children born with or suffering from neurological, muscular or skeletal disorders and injuries. Additional Wonderland, Texas facilities to help special- needs individuals are already in the planning stages.
34 OCTOBER 2017
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