Fans of the Kalispell Water Park looking for a fun-filled thrill or a relaxing float will need to look elsewhere as the summer winds down.  

Officials earlier this month closed the lazy river and waterslide for the remainder of the season due to unforeseen water quality issues.  

The chlorine stabilizer used in the pool has proven ineffective in preventing algae growth, Parks and Recreation Director Chad Fincher said. Draining the pool, cleaning algae from the sides and filling it back up will take through the end of the season, which ends Aug. 16.  

“We look forward to welcoming you back to Woodland Water Park’s Lazy River and Waterslide next season,” read an Aug. 3 announcement from the Parks Department. 

The activity and lap pool will remain open. 

The sun's ultraviolet rays are the likely culprit for the algae growth, breaking down the chlorine stabilizer and causing it to lose effectiveness, Fincher said.   

Other pools around the state are facing similar issues, according to Fincher. Missoula, Butte and Columbia Falls pools have also weathered water quality problems.  

Fincher blamed the lengthy repair timeline on a lack of pool staff. The water park had to run tighter hours this season because of a lifeguard shortage.  

There are currently fewer than 20 lifeguards on staff. The water park typically hires 50.  

“It’s been a real struggle,” he said.  

To attract more staff, the city this year began paying for interested lifeguards to take the training course. While the move has helped, it has not brought in enough new hires, Fincher said.  

The Parks Department is mulling over other ways to keep staffing up, including possibly partnering with Logan Health Fitness and The Wave in Whitefish to circulate lifeguards and create a more robust pool of applicants.  

Fincher said that discounting the water park's entry fee in the wake of the closures will likely be the topic of a forthcoming discussion among staff.  

Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and [email protected].