A year after tornado, Andover YMCA works to reopen water park. Here’s when, what will be new
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Tornado cuts through Sedgwick County and Andover, Kansas
An EF-3 tornado touched down in south-central Kansas on April 29, 2022, leaving damage in its wake, but few injuries. Residents in the Wichita area, Andover and Sedgwick and Butler counties are picking up the pieces.
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The Andover YMCA water park is expected to reopen Memorial Day weekend, a little more than a year after a tornado destroyed the gym and water park.
Greater Wichita YMCA President and CEO Ronn McMahon said he is “cautiously optimistic” the water park will open May 27 when the organization’s other water parks open at the north, northwest and south locations. The equipment is all there, but it is going to take making sure all the park mechanics are working and then putting everything together to make the weekend opening.
Prolonged rains or an unforeseen problem could slightly push back the open date. Any delays will be reported on the Andover YMCA’s social media.
“We just don’t have a lot of wiggle room,” McMahon said Tuesday, adding the water park is about 70-75% done, but still very much looks like a construction site. “It’s close. We’re coming down the home stretch.”
The April 29, 2022, EF-3 tornado — caught by many on cellphone footage — started in rural Sedgwick County before moving into Andover. It then moved out into the country before dissipating. It caused structural damage or destruction to about 180 homes in Andover and rural Butler County and another 22 in rural Sedgwick County.
At least three people were injured, one seriously.
In Andover, the tornado destroyed multiple homes in a neighborhood just southwest of the YMCA, then heavily damaged the nearby Prairie Creek Elementary School before hitting the front entrance of the YMCA, throwing several cars up against the building.
The massive building and water park were destroyed. McMahon said it is going to cost more than the $20 million in original construction to rebuild it all. They don’t know the total cost yet.
The building very much still looks like it was hit by a tornado. It’s not expected to reopen until spring 2024.
With the water park rebuild, the YMCA has added a few new features: a cabana with a turf area for 15-20 people that can be rented, more shaded areas, climbing areas and a splash pad. The water park is free to members.
The water park will continue to have the popular large bucket that dumps water, slides, toddler bay, family pool and lazy river — it takes more than 364,000 gallons of water to fill the last two.
There are no estimates specific to traffic at the water park, but the YMCA said the whole facility averages between 500-1600 people on a weekend before the tornado.
Like with the water park, the gym will also have some new features. One of the most noticeable changes will be replacing the underutilized rock wall — a prominent feature in the old building surrounded by windows and visible from U.S. 54 — with a Luckey Climber, which has rising platforms for children to crawl on and is netted in. The look and feel of the family area around the climber will change as well, McMahon said.
Additionally, the old racketball courts will be converted into a parkour and gymnastics area. A STEM lab also will be added.
But all of that is a way off. About a third of the building’s walls needed to be replaced. Everything inside needed to be gutted and replaced. Supply chain issues have dictated what projects can be done.
“You can see progress,” McMahon said, “but it still looks a mess.”
This story was originally published April 19, 2023 at 1:38 PM.
