Latest news with #SC2
Rhyl Journal
05-08-2025
- Business
- Rhyl Journal
More than £1million spent on repairing roof at Rhyl's SC2
A Freedom of Information (FOI) request made by the Journal to Denbighshire County Council revealed that £1,193,426.70 was spent on the roof repairs at the £15 million water park following storm damage in December 2023. Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, which operates SC2, reopened the water park to customers on July 5 after an 18-month closure. The £1,193,426.70 figure is the minimum amount spent on the repairs. RELATED NEWS SC2 water park re-opens: What to expect after its 18-month closure Breakdown of costs for failed Denbighshire Leisure sale An FOI statement said: "This is the cost figure for roof repairs - £1,193,4267.70. However, this is subject to change on the account of outstanding cost information and substantiation which is still ongoing. "Full cost is being claimed through insurance however a very small part of the amount is still subject to ongoing negotiations." As part of the FOI, the Journal also asked whether the construction or timing of the Central Rhyl Coastal Defences Scheme had impacted the timescale for completing repairs at SC2. The response said: "Although the sea defence works added to the complexity of the project due access restrictions, we worked closely with Balfour Beatty to ensure there was minimal impact." The council said it was unable to confirm how much revenue had been lost as a result of the closure, as the information is considered commercially sensitive and exempt under Section 43(2). As part of its reopening, the water park has offered free taster sessions and hosted visits for homeless families. A new play structure has also been installed inside the Rainforest Diner. The outdoor Splash Pad area, designed for toddlers and young children, reopened to the public on July 12. Jamie Groves, Managing Director at DLL, said at the time of the re-opening: 'We have had a really tough 18 months with the waterpark being closed and we cannot thank our local community enough for their support during this difficult time. "Our team at SC2 is really excited to now be fully open for the holidays, we are looking forward to another fabulous summer in Rhyl." Denbighshire Leisure Ltd was approached for comment.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Politics
- CBS News
With violent crime falling in Chicago, advocates seek to grow successful programs
A summer of stunning crime trends — in a positive direction — was the focus of a meeting Monday at Farragut Career Academy in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. Leaders from various groups helping disrupt crime met to discuss what has been going on this summer, and how to grow programs that are clearly working. Homicides in Chicago are down 57% so far in 2025 over the same period of time in 2024, and Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to spread the good word. But some working on the streets in non-police capacities to help tamp down crime cautioned that officials and advocates should not talk too much and jinx what's happening. "We're in the middle of the game, and you're pitching a perfect game, and you don't want to talk about it, right?" said Aaron Rivas, the Little Village community director of Scaling Community Violence Intervention for a Safer Chicago, or SC2. Rivas on Tuesday addressed a group of members of CVI, or Community Violence Intervention. The Little Village community where they met has seen homicides plummet a stunning 72% from the same time last year. "It's more people that are alive, less funerals that we have to deal with, less court advocacy that we have to, you know, be a part of," Rivas said. Citywide, from Jan. 1 through July 13, homicides are down 32% compared with the same stretch last year. Fatal shootings are down 36%, and shootings as a whole are down 40%. What is the secret sauce of 2025? "Summer is always kind of an anxious time for us," said Rivas. "We don't want to say, 'Man, it's quiet out here,' because as soon as we turn a block, you know, things can change. The goal of SC2 leadership is to cut the city's 2021 homicide rate in half to 400. "Then our goal is to cut it in half again in the coming decade, from 400 to 200 homicides," said Susan Lee, executive director of SC2. Former Chicago Public Schools chief executive officer and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan now leads Chicago CRED, an anti-gun violence organization in the city. He said the last time there were fewer than 400 homicides in Chicago was in 1965. "We can't incarnate ourselves out of this. We have to give people a chance to do something different," said Duncan. "Being able to do that collectively is why these numbers are starting to change." For those on the ground, getting to the end of summer safely is job number one. "Something can happen in an instant that can have a ripple effect," said Rivas. CVI, or Community Violence Intervention, comes from the University of Chicago Crime Lab. The organization said using "credible messengers" and behavioral science-informed interventions helps deescalate stressful situations before they lead to violence. The city and county are committing more dollars toward the programs.
Rhyl Journal
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Rhyl: 300 free SC2 Splash Pad Tickets for locals today
Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL) are blown away with the response to the release of 300 free outdoor Splash Pad tickets at SC2. After releasing the tickets online to local residents to experience the outdoor SC2 Splash Pad in an exciting 'taster day' today, all the tickets were snapped up in less than 45 minutes. For two session, DLL invited local residents to enjoy the waterpark as a free 'taster' for what's to come this weekend when the outdoor Splash Pad opens to the public. MORE NEWS: Rhyl caravan owner 'can only spend six months of year at holiday park' Building left 'empty for years' by Rhyl railway station to be flower shop Rhyl's £12m Queen's Market officially opens for business! Splash Pad will be open weekends and holidays until the end of the summer, with free sessions after 5pm daily aimed at local people. Sessions can be booked online at Jamie Groves, Managing Director at DLL, said: 'We have had a really tough 18 months with the waterpark being closed and we cannot thank our local community enough for their support during this difficult time. We have decided to open the Outdoor Splash Pad a day early and give 300 tickets for free to show our gratitude for their support, and for them to come and see the Splash Pad in all its glory in the amazing weather predicted tomorrow and this weekend. "Our team at SC2 is really excited to be welcoming everyone back to our much loved attraction and we are looking forward to another fabulous summer in Rhyl! As promised, SC2 is back bigger and better than before, so we can't wait to see the Splash Pad full of happy faces and families making memories once more!'
Rhyl Journal
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
'Splash Pad' at Rhyl's SC2 to re-open
The outdoor splash area, designed for younger children, toddlers and infants, is centred around a paddling pool. The water is 30cm at its deepest. The re-opening of the Splash Pad follows the return of the main £15 water park, which welcomed visitors again on July 5. The facility had been closed since December 2023 due to storm damage to its roof. A total of 300 free tickets for taster sessions went live earlier today (July 10) - these have since sold out. Jamie Groves, Managing Director at Denbighshire Leisure Ltd (DLL), said: 'Everyone at DLL is really excited to have the water park back in action, and we can't wait to reopen our 'Splash Pad' this weekend, with a free taster session on Friday. Family with decades-long ties become new custodians of beloved North Wales pub LOOK: We put Zip World's new Tiny Trek to the test! "SC2 is our flagship attraction and it has been a tough time for everyone at DLL without the waterpark. "The taster events are to show our gratitude to local community for their support and to give them a peek at the fantastic fun ahead this summer. "It was brilliant to see so many people enjoying the waterpark again over the last week and now we cannot wait to open the Splash Pad. "Our team at SC2 is really excited to be welcoming everyone back and as promised, we are bigger and better than before." Booking for the Splash Pad is now live on the SC2 website. Tickets: Adults / children aged over three £7.50, children aged between one and three £5 and children under one - free. The main water park also offered free taster sessions and hosted visits for homeless families ahead of its official reopening.
Rhyl Journal
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
SC2 water park re-opens: What to expect after its 18-month closure
The £15 million facility had been shut since December 2023 due to storm damage to its roof. With no grand re-launch, the reopening on Saturday, July 5 was without fanfare - just a quiet return to business. We paid a visit to the attraction with our two boys, aged three and one, for the 9.30am toddler swim session. We'd pre-booked our tickets online and paid a £5 deposit for a locker wristband, which was refunded when we returned it. Parent and toddler sessions are advertised at the attraction (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) Arrival was smooth and stress-free. We were greeted warmly at reception. The staff member asked if we had visited before; I replied that it had been a while, and she responded with a knowing smile. One thing I've always appreciated about SC2 is the family-friendly changing area. There are plenty of spacious family cubicles, each equipped with a secure baby seat - a helpful detail when you're juggling young children. The baby seat in the family cubicle (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) As we entered the pool, the warmth was immediate. 'Mr Blue Sky' played in the background, and we were greeted by the sight of the large Boomerang slide (which, along with the other big slides, is closed during toddler sessions). The pool wasn't too crowded which was nice. There was a good range of floats and toys for little ones to enjoy - ladybirds, penguins, rabbits, splash mirrors, small number floats, and watering cans. Elijah quickly laid claim to the red ladybird float, while Sebastian tried to carry as many pool toys as he could. Outside SC2 (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) Now that Sebastian is a bit older, he was able to try the toddler slides and raced down them with Daddy. I took Elijah down the yellow slide on my knee, and he beamed with delight. There are lots of interactive water features - buckets to tip, gentle sprays, and a water wheel. While the water felt slightly cool at first, we all soon warmed up. MORE NEWS Family with decades-long ties become new custodians of beloved North Wales pub Owner of fire-hit Anglesey hotel speaks of devastating loss LOOK: We put Zip World's new Tiny Trek to the test! We finished our morning with a visit to the Rainforest Diner, which is where you return your wristband to get your £5 deposit back. This can be a bit of a faff if there's a queue. The menu is fairly standard for a family-friendly venue, with options aimed at younger children. That said, there's a lot to like about the space - it's not cramped, I liked the décor and there's a brand-new free soft play area for customers with children aged four and under. It's also nice that there are tables where you can look out over the swimming pool while you eat. The new play structure inside the Rainforest Diner. (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) RELATED STORIES There were no high chairs visible when we arrived, so my husband asked a staff member. They were polite and helpful - someone went off to find the high chairs and returned with a stack. Children's meal - Sausage, chips and beans (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) The food, though simple, was surprisingly tasty and served in cardboard food boxes. Sebastian had sausage, skin-on chips, and beans; my husband opted for a brioche bacon roll (which came generously filled with three rashers of bacon), and I had a sausage breakfast roll with an extra hash brown. Elijah had the kids' sandwich picnic, which included sliced cucumber and Quavers, although at first only the sandwich was brought out. The staff member checked with the kitchen and returned five to 10 minutes later with the full meal presented in a panda-themed box. They joked that the chef was 'going mad' - hopefully not because we chose that meal. The staff member later came to check that everything was okay with the food. The Rainforest Diner (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) The reopening of SC2 appears to have gone ahead without any real fuss. The Splash Pad remains closed (Image: Newsquest / Suzanne Kendrick) The attraction, which offered free taster sessions and hosted visits for homeless families ahead of its official reopening, remains largely unchanged since before its closure. The water park is clean, accessible, and vibrant, with plenty to enjoy. With a maximum indoor pool depth of 90cm, it's designed for play rather than swimming. While entry can be a little pricey, a 'local loyalty discount' is available for residents after 4pm every weekend and throughout the school summer holidays. It's great to see SC2 back open - it offers a unique space for water play in the region, particularly for families with young children. That said, the thrill slides are sure to prove a hit once again with older kids and adults alike. *The outdoor Splash Pad is not yet open.
