Phoenix water parks, tubing rentals can reopen after COVID-19 closure. Here's what we know

Water parks can reopen and tubing rentals can resume in some Arizona counties as of Thursday, Aug. 27.

Community spread of COVID-19 has decreased to "moderate" in some areas, including Maricopa and Pima counties, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. 

Water parks will have to follow restrictions and guidelines to reopen: 

• They must operate at half capacity to allow for physical distancing.
• Masks must be worn at all times by those age 2 and older, except while in the water.
• Staff are required to wear masks and be checked for symptoms at the beginning of their shifts.
• Communal areas must be restricted to prevent people from congregating.
• Visitors should remain at least 6 feet away from those outside of their groups.
• Shared items, such as goggles, snorkels and toys, should be eliminated; any items provided to guests must be disinfected after each use.

According to various health authorities, the new coronavirus cannot be transmitted through chlorinated water. However, it is important to remain physically distanced from others while in the pool and elsewhere around the venue.

More:Can you get coronavirus from a public pool or water slide?

Here's the latest information on which water parks across metro Phoenix are open and which will remain closed.

Big Surf Water Park

Big Surf, which initially planned to open in May, decided to remain closed through the 2020 season "due to the evolving global health crisis and the associated restrictions related to social distancing," according to a statement on its website.

Details: 1500 N. McClintock Drive, Tempe. 480-994-2297, bigsurffun.com.

Golfland Sunsplash

Golfland Sunsplash opened briefly and then closed with Gov. Doug Ducey's June 29 executive order closing bars, gyms and water parks.

Sunsplash will seek to start operating on Friday, Aug. 28. A schedule will be posted on its website on Friday, according to a Facebook post.

"Due to strict capacity rules, all tickets must be purchased online; no walk-up purchases will be permitted," the post reads.

Details: 155 W. Hampton Ave., Mesa. 480-834-8319, -golfland.com/mesa.

Great Wolf Lodge

Great Wolf Lodge resort on the Salt River Reservation near Scottsdale — which has an  indoor water park — has temporarily stopped selling day passes. Only overnight guests can use the water park "for the foreseeable future," according to a spokesperson. See the resort's safety precautions and sanitation protocols on its website.

Details: 7333 N. Pima Road, Salt River Reservation. 888-962-9653, greatwolf.com/arizona.

More:Here's why families will love Great Wolf Lodge Arizona

Oasis Water Park

Arizona Grand Resort and Spa's 7-acre Oasis water park is open. Day passes can be purchased at https://www.resortpass.com/hotels/arizona-grand-resort-spa.

Hours through Oct. 12:

• 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays.
• 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Fridays.
• 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays (until 8 p.m. in August).

Labor Day weekend schedule:

• 10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 4.
• 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5.
• 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 6.
• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7.

From Oct. 12 through Oct. 31, hours are 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekends only.

Safety measures include power washing the entire park with antibacterial soap every morning, selling food and beverages to go only and sanitizing lounge chairs and cabanas after each use, according to Arizona Grand Resort's website.

Details: 8000 Arizona Grand Parkway, Phoenix. 877-800-4888, arizonagrandresort.com/oasis-water-park.

Six Flags Hurricane Harbor

Hurricane Harbor in Glendale will be closed through the 2020 season. "We look forward to welcoming you and your family back to the waterpark next year," a statement on the waterpark's website reads.

Details: 4243 W. Pinnacle Peak Road, Glendale. 623-201-2000, sixflags.com/phoenix.

Salt River Tubing

Though Salt River Tubing & Recreation had intended to reopen after closing in June, it has announced that it will remain closed for the rest of the 2020 season.

Its Aug. 27 statement reads:

"Currently, only 16 days, including Labor Day, remain in SRTR’s operating season. Due to Governor Ducey’s Executive Order closure on June 29th, SRTR employees have sought employment elsewhere in the past 59 days of closure. Understandably, many of our employees are unwilling to return to SRTR for only 16  operating days of the remaining season.

"Due to the lack of certified and experienced SRTR personnel returning for duty, SRTR is unable to provide the quality service that meets our guest’s expectations and safely re-open on August 28th for the remaining 16 days of the tubing season."

Details: 9200 N. Bush Highway, Mesa. 480-984-3305, https://www.saltrivertubing.com.

Reach the reporter at kimi.robinson@gannett.com or at 602-444-4968. Follow her on Twitter @kimirobin.

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