As temperatures soar, people find relief at a favorite water hole

By BECKY WALDROP
Gazette-Times reporter

Quite possibly the hottest and the coolest places in Corvallis on Thursday were just a few feet from each other.

Just in time for the season's first real heat wave to hit the mid-valley, water flowed, jetted and misted from the city's popular fountain at Riverfront Commemorative Park downtown.

Seats sizzled on park benches and rock resting areas near the fountain surrounded by concrete. It was so hot on the rocks that many adults who brought their children to play in the fountain decided to join in the fountain fun.

Miriah Fernandez and her mom, Margaret, came to the park with Karen Buckner. Miriah spent the most time dashing between the grated spouts shooting water columns three times as tall as she is.

As the water went higher, the shrieks of delight and shock of the cool water grew louder.

Miriah's mom and Buckner made frequent trips from the rocks to the fountain to cool off. Buckner purchased a family membership at Osborn Aquatic Center after a state water inspector's schedule delayed the city's plan to turn the fountain on earlier.

With water dripping from her clothes and skin, Buckner said she was glad she had a less expensive, and less crowded, alternative to Otter Beach outdoor water park.

"It gets packed in there (Otter Beach)," Buckner said. "This is perfect."

The New Orleans native said she doesn't mind the heat.

"I've been waiting for it. I'm glad it's finally here," Buckner said.

As the temperature edged above the 90-degree mark on the Umpqua Bank clock downtown around 2 p.m., staff at the Oregon State University's summer day camp, KidSpirit, were securing the edges of a make-shift slip'n'slide on the lawn on the back side of Waldo Hall on campus.

While their parents were at work, and players wiped sweat from their brows on the baseball field at nearby Goss Stadium, dozens of children took turns descending the plastic sheet propelled by a steady stream from a garden hose. A patch of grass and a foam pad protected the kids from sliding into the paved parking lot, or the parking sign at the bottom of the course.

North of town in OSU's McDonald Forest, a few people enjoyed the abundant shade along the trails. The forest is a popular place for people to walk, hike and bike and with the daylight hours nearly at a peak this weekend, McDonald Forest is among the coolest venues for those looking for a place to exercise after work.

Today's forecast calls for temperatures in mid-80s with sunshine and clear skies expected through the rest of the weekend.

Becky Waldrop covers public policy and education at the Gazette-Times. She can be reached at becky.waldrop@lee.net or 758-9510.