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For the first time Saturday, the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department had a Wipeout event on a weekend, but it was also the last day for the lifeguards this summer.
The Wipeout events - with the Aquaglide inflatable obstacle course on the water - usually take place in the summer on weekdays on Center or Pike lakes with the lifeguards to keep an eye out for everyone’s safety. Many of the local school districts have started or are starting the 2025-26 school year, with some of the lifeguards heading to college. Saturday’s Wipeout was an opportunity for the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department to have one big event at the end of summer on the lifeguards’ last day of duty.
And Saturday’s Wipeout from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Pike Lake brought out many people of all ages to take part.
New to the Wipeout this year was a giant trampoline on the water.
Stephanie Schaefer, Warsaw Parks’ recreation director, said, “So, we had it here for the last one that we had that was on the weekday. It was a huge hit! So today is the first time on a Saturday that we were able to have it for that, and this is the first Wipeout ever on a Saturday.”
Having a Wipeout event is a team effort.
“We depend on the maintenance guys to come over. It takes all of the lifeguards and all of the Rec. staff. So a very big crew - usually about 20 people for just this event. So very thankful that we could have it today,” Schaefer said.
“It’s been very steady today. We’ve had a lot of new waivers, too, so new participation,” she said. “I feel like this is the perfect way to kind of end summer. Warsaw Schools went back yesterday, they’re going to (school) on Monday, obviously, so just something fun for the families to do.”
The parks department has had the Aquaglide for a few years, starting after the Covid pandemic.
“I think it’s very popular because any age can come out and do this, which is great,” she stated.
The lifeguards not only supervised to make sure everyone was safe, but also helped little children get onto the equipment. Everyone getting on the Aquaglide was not only required to sign a waiver or have their parents sign one for them, but they also had to wear a lifejacket.
“Some of them can’t touch, but if you watch the lifeguards, you can see that they kind of help them up,” Schaefer said.
She noted Saturday was the lifeguards’ last day to work as she’s lost a few of them to high school already and the rest are going off to college.
“We’re finding that that’s more and more common as the years go on. A lot of the kids are very involved, even in college, so we are ending it today,” Schaefer said.
Lifeguard Diego Manwaring is heading to Indiana University - Bloomington this fall after graduating from Warsaw Community High School. Having completed his first year as a lifeguard for Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department, he’s already looking forward to next summer.
“I started as a swimmer my freshman year, completely new, and I went through the program at Warsaw and I fell in love with it. I did it for four years, became a team captain. We went to state twice. We were close to breaking our records, very close. But I just enjoy the water and the sun and the atmosphere. It’s beautiful to get the sun and just watch people enjoy themselves on the beach,” he said.
Manwaring said his experience as a lifeguard was “magnificent.”
“My boss is great. She treats us right. She gets us ice cream and water, she takes care of us,” he said. “The people are very pleasant, usually. ... The water’s nice, the weather’s always nice. It’s good vibes out here.”
He said when they have a fuller staff, they lifeguard at both Center and Pike lakes. “But since we have a staff shortage, we actually only did mostly Center this year. So we’re looking for new guards,” he stated.
Having the Aquaglide out at the lake made his day a bit different than a regular day at the beach.
“It’s a lot different because we have kids everywhere swimming. There’s more rules, more risk because there’s some obstacles here, but we have all the guards taking care and watching their posts. It’s definitely a good team effort to work out here and make this all go smoothly,” Manwaring stated.
“Absolutely, I do plan on coming back. I really enjoyed it this year. The Parks and Rec. staff give us extra opportunities to work as well outside of the beach, which is really nice. That is a perk if you want any overtime. I like it around here, and I encourage anyone who is thinking about being a lifeguard to try it out and take the class at Warsaw High School,” he stated.
Though summer is coming to a close, Schaefer said there are a couple other events coming up.
Touch-A-Truck is Saturday, Aug. 23, noon to 3 p.m. at Central Park. She said a lot of fun equipment will be on hand there.
Fall Family Fun is Friday, Oct. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lucerne Park, 800 N. Park Ave., Warsaw. Schaefer said that will be a little bit different this year as there will be a lot more animals and an inflatable corn maze. As the sun sets, a special showing of “Charlotte’s Web” will take place on the Monster Screen at the amphitheater, starting promptly at 7:30 p.m., according to the Parks Department’s Facebook page.
Watch the Warsaw Parks and Recreation Department’s Facebook page, as well as announcements in the newspaper, online and on the radio for any additional information.
