You can cool off a week early at Splash in the Boro when the water park opens for a sneak preview Saturday and Sunday.
    Splash opens daily for the summer 2010 season on Memorial Day weekend.
    The water park inside Mill Creek Regional Park underwent a $4 million expansion last year, adding three new attractions. The Mat Racer, a four-lane racing slide, opened last July, but will be open all season this year, said Chad Avret, operations manager for Splash.
    Also open all season in 2010 are The Flowrider, a wave pool that simulates surfing, and a zero-depth spray pool for children who are not old enough to swim.
    With the expansions, more lifeguards also were hired to protect Splash in the Boro’s guests, Avret said. At any time at least 35 lifeguards can be found on duty patrolling the park’s 768,000 gallons of water.
    Avret said people coming to Splash this year will notice additional shade structures at the park and more concrete has been sealed with heat-resistant paint to “create a better guest experience.”
    Avret said the additional attractions helped account for a 45-percent increase in attendance in 2009 over the previous year. Splash served 154,000 guests in 2009, a record year, and Avret expects similar crowds in 2010.
     “We encourage people to come out and get in line early,” Avret said. “Opening weekend is a good opportunity to come out before schools let out for the summer.”
    Splash will be open Saturday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday noon to 6 p.m. The park reopens May 29 for daily operation through Aug. 8. It will then be open weekends only through Labor Day and close for the season after the holiday.