MT. VERNON (WSIL) -- A family favorite is reopening just in time for Independence Day.
The Aquatic Zoo is welcoming back guests after COVID-19 pushed back its open date for the summer season from Memorial Day weekend to July 1st, but there are some new guidelines in place.
With Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois plan, pools and water parks can operate at 50% capacity, but the Aquatic Zoo will allow even fewer guests.
Angela Schrum, Director Mt. Vernon Convention & Visitors Bureau, says the city has decided to hold two sessions for visitors each day and put a maximum on occupancy.
"Normally you can have up to 991 people in this facility, and we are going to limit it to just 250 guests during each session," she says.
Those sessions run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The hour break allows for employees to clean the park between sessions.
Guests can line up 30 minutes before the first session and an hour before the second session to purchase wrist bands for admission. Each session will have a different colored wrist band.
There are some other changes that guests will notice as well such as temperature checks.
"Due to guidelines everyone who comes in is going to have their temperature checked," Schrum explains. "It's going to be one of those scan ones."
Employees will also have their temperatures checked before each shift as well.
Other health and safety guidelines include markers on the ground for social distancing in places where lines form, sanitation stations, employees regularly cleaning high-traffic areas, and workers wearing a face mask while interacting with guests.
Schrum hopes visitors will be patient with employees as these changes are navigated for the first time.
"Most of our employees are teenagers, they are great kids," she explains. "But please know they didn't make the rules. They are just trying to make sure everyone has fun and is safe."
The Aquatic Zoo is open 7 days a week with weather permitting and updates are given on the water park's Facebook page .
The cost is $6 for kids ages 2-17 and seniors 65 and older. The price for adults is $8.
