Parma Heights’ Greenbrier Commons pool complex includes a lap pool, diving area, children’s activity pool and dual water slides. (John Benson/cleveland.com)
PARMA HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Simply put, Archimedes’ Principle states that if the weight of the water displaced is less than the weight of an object, the object will sink. Otherwise, the object will float.
The Parma Heights Recreation Department will test that hypothesis by holding an end-of-summer cardboard boat race event at the Greenbrier Commons pool.
“We were just trying to figure out something else fun to do at the end of the season,” Director of Recreation Stacey Allen said.
“While you see cardboard boat races periodically in the news and on TV, we found other pools around the state that were doing them, but we couldn’t find anybody locally.”
The Parma Heights Cardboard Boat Races take place Saturday (Sept. 3). The day begins at 10 a.m. with inspections of the previously built boats (only onsite tweaking is allowed at the pool), followed by the races beginning at 11 a.m.
Allowable boat materials include cardboard, duct tape, hot glue and packing tape. Sealed or coated cardboard is not allowed.
While decorations are encouraged, only the use of colored duct tape and markers are acceptable. No paint is allowed in the pool.
The boat specs -- allowing for one or two riders -- call for nothing wider than 40 inches or longer than 60 inches. Paddles must be constructed out of the aforementioned materials.
The races are open to residents and non-residents. Visitors can watch for free.
Parma Heights’ Greenbrier Commons pool complex includes a lap pool, diving area, children’s activity pool and dual water slides. (John Benson/cleveland.com)
“We’ve actually got a decent response of people who want to know if they can just come and watch, so hopefully we get a good crowd,” Allen said.
In addition to each heat having a winner, the fun also includes numerous awards -- Best Decorated Boat, Youngest Racer, Oldest Racer, Staff Special Mention and Titanic Award (most epic sink of the day).
Regarding the latter, Allen said, “It has to be spectacular to achieve that one.”
As for making the races an annual affair, Allen suggested that depends on whether the idea, well, floats.
“If it’s popular and successful, it’ll definitely be repeated,” Allen said.
Read more news from the Parma Sun Post.
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