Fear not, Iola sliders.
Despite a new state law that has prompted several communities to close down water slides for their respective water parks, the two slides at the Iola Municipal Pool will remain open.
City Administrator Sid Fleming said he has visited at length with officials about the new law and feels secure Iola’s slides are safe.
The law, which took effect July 1, imposes new inspection and permit requirements on amusement rides. The law was passed this year after a state lawmaker’s son, Caleb Schwab, died last summer on the Verruckt water slide at Schlitterbahn waterpark in Kansas City, Kan. A portion of the law that imposes criminal penalties for operating a ride without a license was delayed until Jan. 1 to give ride operators time to comply with the new regulations.
“The legislation was not real clear” in defining what types of slides should be subject to the permit process, Fleming noted.
The law defines a water slide as an amusement ride if it’s at least 15 feet in height and uses water as a propellant, Fleming said.
“With our slides, the water is more of a lubricant,” Fleming said.
The Iola pool has two slides, one that follows a straight path along an incline; the other a curvy, meandering route.
Among the communities that have closed their slides, according to the Associated Press, was Chanute.
“We knew our slide probably won’t pass inspection, and so that was worrying the parks board,” Newman told the AP. “And then the second (reason) was because of the new law.”
Fleming told the Register he was working to schedule a state inspection of the Iola water slides as well.
STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Iola water slides remain in operation amid new state law
