Dangerous heat caused Red Oaks Waterpark in Madison Heights to close Tuesday. Plans are to open Wednesday and Thursday with modified hours — and discounted admission.
Erik Koppin, the county’s chief of park operations and maintenance for the south district, said he is assessing how operations go Wednesday.
“Our hope and plan is to operate under these modified hours today and Thursday and make a decision about Friday, depending on the forecast as far as the heat index,” he said.
In two social media posts, park officials said the park, at 1455 E 12 Mile Road, was closed out of an abundance of caution for guests and staff and is “never a decision we want to make.”
The National Weather Service issued an extreme-heat warning that ends at 8 p.m. Thursday. Until then, expect daytime temperatures in the 90s and a heat index higher than 105. High heat and humidity can overwhelm a person’s body. It takes about two weeks to adapt to extreme temperatures.
“At first glance, it seems backwards to close or reduce hours at a waterpark during extreme heat,” park officials said in a social-media post. “After all, those are the days when many people want to visit the most.”
Heat-related illness is more likely this week because people can quickly become dehydrated. That’s a big risk for children, who may not realize they’re overheating.
High temperatures can superheat concrete and pavement, making surfaces 40 to 60 degrees hotter than the air — hot enough to cause burns.
As of Tuesday afternoon, park officials planned to open from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, July 1 and 2.
As for those reduced prices: County residents pay $16 and non-residents pay $22 per person. Tickets can be purchased online at https://bit.ly/43BEzMN. Call (248) 498-1235 if you plan to buy tickets at the gate, as the park sells out quickly.
Park officials said they appreciated the understanding and patience of Red Oaks’ fans.
The City of Rochester Hills modified Wednesday and Thursday beach hours at Spencer Park because of the heat. The beach will be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and closed 3 to 7 p.m.
“This current heat wave is no joke,” the city said in an social-media announcement. “We have lifeguards and staff who were impacted by today’s temperatures, and the park lacks working air conditioning in any building.”
The city also expressed appreciation for the community’s patience and understanding that “safety comes first.”
The weather service offered these tips for coping with high heat:
Wear lightweight, loose-fitting clothes
Limit strenuous outdoor activities to the cooler early morning or evening hours and take frequent breaks in shade or air-conditioned spaces.
Do not leave children, older people or pets in unattended vehicles, which can become lethally hot in minutes
Check on relatives and neighbors
Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Heat exhaustion symptoms include:
A person with these symptoms should be quickly moved to shade or an air-conditioned space. Apply cool wet clothes to their skin or put them into a cool bath or shower. Give them sips of water or sports drinks, not coffee or alcohol. Stop fluids if they are nauseated.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening condition that happens when a person’s body stops sweating and their temperature rises above 103 degrees. Other heat-stroke symptoms: Hot dry red skin, rapid strong pulse, headache, dizziness, nausea, confusion and unconsciousness. Call 911 for emergency medical support.
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