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referendum also allowed for design for one of the first indoor water parks in the
Southeast. Land for the water park was available on the Irwin Elementary campus, adjacent to a natural creek that is park of the Mecklenburg County greenway system and that connects surrounding neighborhoods. The architect firm Clark/Nexsen designed the water park facilities, emphasizing the movement of water and incorporating the nearby natural creek as its design. The $ 7.5 million project had its groundbreaking in March 2001. Physically attached to the Irwin Academic Center (previously known as Irwin Avenue Elementary) through the shared space of the gymnasium, Ray's Splash Planet opened on October 15, 2002. Since 2002, Ray's Splash Planet has won numerous awards and accolades for being a feature attraction for local residents from the
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In 1994, a plan was suggested to turn the Irwin Avenue
Elementary School into a new recreation center. Extensive renovation of the gymnasium followed the approval of a 1995 park bond referendum, and the (basketball) gymnasium opened to the public in 1998 as the Irwin Avenue Recreation Center. The
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system. There are multiple attractions including the Blue Comet, a three-story figure 8 slide, and other family friendly attractions like the
Orbiter, Saturation Station, the Vortex, Meteor Showers, Moon Beach and the Sea of Tranquility. The water park also features a fitness center and gymnasium
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system. The first floor of the facility includes the pool area, locker rooms, birthday party classrooms and concessions stand. The second story includes the fitness center with an
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3 story slide shaped in the form of a double figure-8. (Must be 48" tall to ride)
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Two lap-lanes for lap swimming, water basketball and water volleyball.
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shared with the Irwin
Academic Center, an educational center of the
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Features four slides, interactive water play and tumble buckets.
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Buildings and structures in
Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
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A quick current pool that pushes swimmers in a circle.
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A kiddie play area with gradual beach-like entry pool.
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A small lazy river that circles around the Blue Comet.
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449:"Charlotte Parent Magazine 2011 Readers Favorites"
502:Tourist attractions in Charlotte, North Carolina
408:Mecklenburg County News Release, October 9, 2002
418:"Clark Nexsen, Architecture & Engineering"
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16:Water park in Charlotte, North Carolina
477:Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation
439:World Water Park Association, May 2007
395:"Ray's Splash Planet: Water Park Info"
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512:2002 establishments in North Carolina
385:- On The Road Series, August 26, 2010
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406:"News Release by Mecklenburg County"
266:Ray's Splash Planet in Charlotte, NC
380:"On The Road: Ray's Splash Planet"
182:ultraviolet germicidal irradiation
158:Mecklenburg County, North Carolina
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176:and is the largest water park in
254:and Charlotte Parent magazines.
33:Overflowing With Fun and Fitness
203:Interstate 77 in North Carolina
458:Charlotte Parent Magazine 2011
199:Johnson & Wales University
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497:Water parks in North Carolina
211:Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
205:in the Third Ward section of
187:Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
482:World Waterpark Association
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235:Greensboro, North Carolina
231:Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe
427:Design Cost Data Magazine
219:Charlotte, North Carolina
178:Charlotte, North Carolina
166:Charlotte, North Carolina
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213:. Major competitors are
88:35.238083°N 80.8512972°W
227:Concord, North Carolina
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152:(often referred to as
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258:Rides and attractions
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22:Ray's Splash Planet
454:2012-07-09 at the
423:2008-05-13 at the
361:List of waterparks
342:Sea of Tranquility
306:Saturation Station
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248:Charlotte Observer
108:Mecklenburg County
42:Recreate All Year!
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223:Great Wolf Lodge
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201:and is just off
142:Official website
122:Operating season
117:October 15, 2002
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276:Description
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79:80°51′4.67″W
76:35°14′17.1″N
294:The Orbiter
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164:located in
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66:Coordinates
491:Categories
367:References
330:Moon Beach
318:The Vortex
162:water park
215:Carowinds
174:Carolinas
51:Charlotte
452:Archived
421:Archived
355:See also
191:aerobics
47:Location
241:History
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156:) is a
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114:Opened
39:Slogan
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104:Owner
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