Victor Garcia of Gainesville and his daughters showed up nearly an hour early to be first in line to enjoy the "Splash Zone" and all the other fun the $12 million facility was ready to offer.
"We decided to come early," Garcia said. "We expected to see a lot of people but we are the first ones and we made it."
Dedication for the center, named for Hall County's first black county commissioner, is set for Sept. 17; Meadows died while in office in 2002.
Her daughter, Kerri Robinson, was among the first to arrive to see the gates open to the public.
"It's a great feeling to know that your mother was honored that much and loved that much by everybody," Robinson said.
It did not take long for a line to form for the long awaited public opening at the center. Center Director Jennifer Colvin said the facility and staff were ready and waiting after weeks of preparation and lots of training.
"The line went quickly and everybody's in and it looks like they're enjoying themselves and that's what we're here for," Colvin said.
The Splash Zone, with its drop buckets, water slides spray pools and other features, remains open until Sept. 14, according to Marketing Director Julie Butler Colombini.
"If folks are interested and the weather permits we'll look at keeping it open even longer, especially on weekends," she said. "Through the 14th we'll have extended hours with Saturday hours from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and on Sunday from noon until 7 p.m."
The four-lane indoor instructional pool and 10-lane competition pool are open year around, along with the 4,400-square-foot community meeting area.
The center was located on undeveloped former textile mill property on Jesse Jewell Parkway across from New Holland Elementary School. Gainesville's new Middle School is under construction next to the center and is scheduled to open next year.
VIctor Garcia and his daughters are first in line
The 'Splash Zone's first customers start splashing
Kerri Robinson arrives at the Center
http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/8/212836