The Bucky Dent Water Park in Hialeah, Florida, reopened its doors on Friday, July 31, after seven years of closure, in a ceremony led by Mayor Bryan Calvo that brought together municipal officials, city employees, and community families.
According to reports, the event started at 11:30 a.m. at the facilities located at 2240 West 60th Street, including a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Calvo had announced the reopening through his social media, where he described the return of the park as a highly anticipated moment for the community.
Free entry and family activities
On the inaugural day, access was completely free, and the first 100 attendees received a voucher for food and another for dessert.
The free access will be extended until August 13, only on scheduled days:
-Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
-Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
The city did not disclose what the rates will be once the free access period ends.
A multi-year renovation worth millions of dollars
The park closed around 2019 due to the deterioration of its facilities, and the scale of the repairs prolonged its inactivity much longer than anticipated.
The rehabilitation was carried out in stages, as detailed by Diario Las Américas:
In 2021, the city authorized the purchase of a water play area with 19 elements for up to $227,118.
In October 2024, the City Council approved a contract of up to $435,671 to renovate the activity pool.
In 2025, equipment for the pump room was acquired for up to $103,278.
The total investment amounted to approximately 4 million dollars.
Calvo acknowledged that practically the entire system needed intervention.
"Everything had problems. It was necessary to install new pumps for the filtration, new filters, and replace all the equipment in the activity area," he declared.
The mayor also noted that the reopening was delayed by approximately a week due to the inspection and approval process of the Florida Department of Health.
Slides, lazy river, and children's area
The renovated complex features two water slides approximately 30 feet – about 9.1 meters – high, a main pool, and a children's area with a shallow pool and a splash park.
The park also features a slow-moving river, rest areas, accessible spaces for wheelchair users, food stalls, and parking.
It is part of a larger recreational center that includes a gym, a covered building for community activities, a playground, public restrooms, and softball fields.
An early victory for Hialeah's youngest mayor
Calvo, who took office as mayor in January 2026 at the age of 28, becoming the youngest municipal leader in the history of Hialeah, presented the reopening as one of the first tangible victories of his administration.
"After seven years, Bucky Dent Water Park is finally reopening, and families in Hialeah will once again have a place to swim, gather, and enjoy time together," the mayor declared.
He also highlighted the efforts of the municipal team: “It is a testament to the great team we have been able to form. Everyone was working; they finished at 11 at night, but it was accomplished in time for people to enjoy it this summer.”
The park is named after Russell Earl «Bucky» Dent, a former Major League Baseball player who grew up in Hialeah and is remembered for his decisive home run on October 2, 1978, in the tiebreaker game between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox.
The reopening is particularly significant for Hialeah, the city with the highest concentration of Cubans in the United States, where more than 72% of its residents are of Cuban origin.
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