Rules & Safety

St. Charles Park District strives to offer a pleasant experience for all guests. Rules are established to offer a clean and safe environment for everyone. Please obey all rules to ensure a safe and fun experience while visiting this facility.

Otter Cove is an alcohol and smoke free facility.

• Help keep parks and facilities clean. Follow carry in/carry out Leave No Trace etiquette.
• Please follow additional sign instructions throughout this facility.
• St. Charles Park District is not responsible for lost, stolen or damaged items.

Facility Rules

• Food and beverages must be kept in personal bags and only consumed at The Dive or in designated concession areas.
• Gum is not allowed.
• Glass containers of any kind are not permitted.
• Lounge chairs must be kept 6 feet from the pool’s edge and clear of emergency access points.
• Use lockers to secure valuables. St. Charles Park District is not responsible for lost or stolen items.

Supervision of Children

• Parents/guardians are responsible for supervising their child(ren).
• Lifeguards/aquatic staff are on duty to enforce rules and respond in case of an emergency.
• Ages 10 & under must be accompanied by a person, age 16 or older.

Personal Conduct

• All persons are encouraged to take a shower before entering the Aquatic Park.
• Locker Room Use
  • The use of cameras and other picture-taking equipment, including cell phones, is prohibited in the locker rooms.
  • Women’s Locker Room: girls ages 6 & older
  • Men’s Locker Room: boys ages 6 & older
  • All Gender & Family Restrooms: available for all guests
• Guests must wear an appropriate swimsuit to swim. Non-appropriate swim attire includes, but is not limited to, sports bras, sport shorts, basketball shorts, cutoff jeans, underwear, thong bikinis and swimsuits deemed to be unfitting for family environment due to tightness, transparency or cut.
• Children who are not toilet-trained must wear a tightly-fitted disposable swim diaper.
• Spitting, spouting of water, blowing the nose or otherwise introducing contaminants into the swimming pool is not permitted.
• Pool water is not suitable for drinking. Patrons should avoid swallowing pool water.
• Running, boisterous or rough play and prolonged underwater breath holding is not allowed.
• All state and local health laws apply.

Play Toys/Swim Devices

• Soft water toys may be used in the Activity Pool, Toddler Pool and Sand Play Area only.
• Flotation devices and hard-throwing or spraying objects are prohibited in the Aquatic Park.
• Infant rings and tubes, baby seat floats, and US Coast Guard approved lifejackets may be used within an arm’s reach of a parent/guardian in less than three feet of water.
• Use of swim goggles and masks are permitted. Use of snorkels, fins or other devices that obstruct both airways are not allowed.

Tot Slide/Toddler Pool

• Only one child allowed on the slide at a time.
• Enter slide using the steps and hand grips. Do not climb on the slide.
• Children must ride the slide in a sitting position. Standing, stopping and head first sliding are not permitted.
• After sliding, exit the area quickly, especially if others are waiting to ride.
• Infant rings and tubes, baby seat floats and US Coast Guard approved lifejackets may be used within an arm’s reach of a parent/guardian.
• The tot slide in the Activity Pool and the Toddler Pool are designed for toddlers and small children only.

Splash Park

• Sand toys are not permitted on the splash pads.
• Do not climb on the turtle or any other feature in the park.
• Rinse off all sand before entering the splash pads or the Aquatic Park.

Sand Play Area

• Leave sand toys for others to enjoy or bring your own from home.
• Do not climb on any play features.
• Immediately after exiting, rinse off all sand from yourself and your personal items.
• Sand toys are not permitted on the splash pads.

Diving/Lap Swimming

• Only one person on the diving board at a time.
• Before diving, wait for the previous diver to reach the ladder and make sure diving area is clear of swimmers.
• One bounce allowed per diver.
• Jump straight off board, facing forward only.
• Use caution when diving. Head and neck injuries can result from improper diving.
• Swimming lanes are designated for lap swim only. Swim to the right side in your lane.

Lazy River

• Enter and exit the Lazy River at designated areas only.
• Only tubes provided may be used at the Aquatic Park. Blue tubes are for the Yellow Tube Slide. Clear tubes are for the Lazy River.
• Maximum rider weight per tube is 400 lbs.
• One rider per single tube; two riders per double tube.
• Children may not sit on an adults lap.
• Riders must remain in tube at all times. Follow the direction of the current.
• No stopping, walking, swimming or diving allowed.
• No horseplay, such as pushing, rocking, hitting, etc. allowed.

Water Slides

Water slide rides are adventure activities and may expose riders to possible physical injury. In choosing to participate, the rider assumes full responsibility for any injuries sustained. Parents or guardians of riders, ages 17 & under, are strongly encouraged to observe this activity prior to allowing their child(ren) to participate or choosing to participate themselves.

• Maximum rider weight is 300 lbs.
• Maximum rider weight per tube is 400 lbs.
• Riders must wait for the attendant’s signal before starting the ride.
• Do not propel yourself into the slide.
• Do not go down head first.
• No running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, diving or stopping in the flume. Hands and arms must be kept inside the flume at all times.
• No horseplay, such as pushing, rocking, hitting, etc. allowed.
• After sliding, exit the area quickly. No swimming in the splash down area.
• Only tubes provided may be used at the Aquatic Park. Blue tubes are for the Yellow Tube Slide. Clear tubes are for the Lazy River.
• Metal objects, locker keys, jewelry, metal snaps, watches, goggles, etc. are not allowed on any waterslide.
• Do not use any waterslide while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Rider assumes all risk of injury due to misuse of this slide or failure to follow rules.
• WARNING: Pregnant women, elderly persons, and people using prescription medicines or those suffering from heart disease or high blood pressure should consult their physician before using slides.

Height Requirements

Body Slide, Drop Slide & Tube Slide

• Riders must be at least 42 inches.
• Riders 42-47 inches may use slides while wearing an approved US Coast Guard lifejacket.
• Riders 48+ inches may use slides without wearing a lifejacket.

Racer Slide

• Riders must be at least 42 inches. No lifejackets permitted.

Turbo Freefall Slide

• Riders must be at least 48 inches. No lifejackets permitted.

Ride Position

Body Slide & Drop Slide

• Only one rider may enter the flume at a time. No chain riding permitted.
• Body Slide: Riders must sit feet first lying down on their back or in a sitting position. Do not propel yourself into the slide. Do not go down head first.
• Drop Slide: Riders must enter the slide in a sitting position then ride feet first while lying on their back with legs crossed at ankles and arms crossed across their chest.

Tube Slide

• One rider per single tube; two riders per double tube.
• Children may not sit on an adults lap.
• Riders must remain seated in their tube facing forward and holding onto the handles at all times. Do not rock, stop or slow the tube during the ride. No running, standing, kneeling, rotating, tumbling, diving or stopping in the flume. If you accidentally fall from the tube, continue down the flume without it and exit normally.

Racer Slide

• Riders must enter the slide in a sitting position then ride feet first while lying on their back with arms crossed across their chest.

Turbo Freefall Slide

• Riders must enter the slide feet first.
• Do not sit up while riding this slide.

For Racer Slide & Turbo Freefall Slide

• Riders should remain in proper riding position until forward movement is complete.
• In the runout pool, do not stand until you come to a complete stop and then exit promptly.
• Water depth in runout pool is approximately 12-18 inches.
• No lifejackets, tubes or mats are permitted.
• Non-swimmers are not permitted.

Sand Volleyball Court

• Available during Open Swim & Twilight Hours, weather & conditions permitting.
• All ages & skill levels welcome.
• If others are waiting, limit your playing time to 30 minutes.
• Immediately after exiting, rinse off all sand from yourself and personal items.
• Notify Guest Services if the volleyball enters a fenced or staff only area.
• Volleyballs are available for use. Check one out from Guest Services for free using a photo ID.

Closure/Cancellation Guidelines

The Park District reserves the right to reduce pool operations or close the pool due to inclement weather, low attendance or low staff. Refunds will not be issued due to weather conditions, attendance or scheduled special events. The pool will close if any of the following conditions occur:

• Inclement weather such as strong rain, lightening, tornado, etc.
• Air temperature below 65 degrees
• Attendance severely reduced
• Scheduled special events
• Health & safety of the public is endangered
• This facility is protected by the StrikeGuard Lighting Warning System.

Violation of any rules may result in serious injury and/or immediate removal from the facility.

Additional St. Charles Park District Rules & Safety Information: click here