Easy Sliders Slip Into Pleasanton\'s Watery Playground / Families play it cool at Shadow Cliffs

1999-08-04:00:00 PDT Pleasanton--The roller coaster is exciting.It\'s refreshing to jump in the lake.But there\'s nothing better than water skiing for real summer thrills.You stand on the top of the mountain and meditate on the water below.Then, as you quickly pass through the tunnel and slide up and down the curved wall, you pounce on the foam pad, giving up all the sense of control, shooting down a drop and heading into the deep trough.And there was a grin and came back.For this fun, you can spend about $20 per person to visit the water park for a day.Or you can go to the shadow cliff area entertainment area near Pleasanton, slide and swing for $6 an hour, then grill on the beach, swim with family or friends, sunbathe, have fun.\"This child is the play most --\"Because of water skiing, friendly (Public Park),\" said Maryan Waqa of Albany ).\".Waqa and her family recently visited the park to celebrate their birthday for her 12-year-old nephewyear-David Lao.When the adults distribute food at the picnic table outside the waterslide, the children, including the 9-of the Waqa-year-Old daughter Briana rushed in and out of the slide show area for $14day passes.Briana said that the rapids on the shadow cliff, with four sinks built on the hillside, are not as exciting as the water world, a large water park in Concord.\"The line is short, but the water world is a bit interesting because it has more to do.\" The 500-foot-long half-According to today\'s water park standards, the tube-shaped sink is very gentle, and Dan Cunning, park ranger and shadow cliff agent, agrees.\"They are aimed at children in primary school and junior high school.We have a lot of families and parents like it.-Those who are not really looking for excitement.\"Another big attraction in the entertainment district is the post-80 s.Akry shadow Cliff Lake, formerly a gravel quarry.In 1969, Kaiser Industries donated pits and surrounding land to the East Bay area park.The park has built a swimming beach, a picnic area and other amenities using a $250,000 federal grant.The park opened in 1979.In 1981, the water slide opened as a separate concession.A group of lifeguards in shorts and sandals are monitoring the fiberglass slide.They stand at the top and make sure the slider moves one down at a time.At the bottom they make sure everyone leaves the tank.The slider must be at least 42 inch high-Usually at least 6 or 7 years old, though 5-year-olds can slide.Rules prohibit the slider from standing, sliding or getting off in the middleride.The sink has the same stimulating quotient with slightly different features.There are tunnels and rapids, but there is no gap.There was another drop but no tunnel.The third one has tunnels and drops, but the drops don\'t look as steep as the others.Or they are.It\'s better to check again.Shadow Cliff also has locker rooms, boats for rent, fishing docks, fishCleaning station, snack bar and bait shop.Part of the lake has a shady picnic area and wide sandy beaches.Lifeguards are on duty all summer.Hiking trails and grass fields provide leisure and entertainment for people far from the water.But water is the main attraction of the park, especially in the hot summer.Children build sandcastles on the beach, or splash a row of red floats in the shallow waters of the lake.Adults migrate to more calm, deeper places where they can see their toes at the bottom of the lake, even in the chest --deep water.Color umbrellas sprout on the beach on a recent Sunday, with salsa music intertwined with rap and rock music.Spanish, Tagalog, English and Chinese conversations are floating on the picnic grounds.On a table, a grandmother piled rice and fish on a paper tray.Nearby, a father turned the roast pork fork into a tortillas, waiting for the child to arrive.In a cool place near the parking lot, when Dongyin music poured out of the portable stereo sound, the woman wearing a veil became a kebab.When the weather gets hotter, go back to the water slide and the lines get longer.The splash and the shout seemed even bigger.\"They like any water sports,\" said Virginia Zhang of Alameda, looking at the slider.\"The children just want to get wet in the hot weather.\" Take I-580 East to Pleasanton.Walk right (south) from the exit of St. Rita Road.Turn left onto Valley Avenue and then left onto park entrance on Stanley Avenue.During the summer there are lifeguards beaches and swimming areas, picnic areas, hiking trails, fishing docks.One-Day fishing permits required for anglers aged 16 and older;Buy at Park entrance kiosk.Jet water skiing, (925) 846-4900 or (925) 829-6230.Hours: 10:30 a.m.to 5:30 p.m.Price: $14 fullday pass;$6 an hour;$4 per half-hour.$9 half-Available all day from Monday to Friday.The slider is at least 42 inch high.Boat, boat and electric boat rental services are available.Especially for kids: the water slide is not terrible even looking down from the top.Beaches and lakes are the children\'s favorite.Shadow cliff area entertainment district, 2500 Stanley Avenue., Pleasanton.(925) 846-3000.Hours: 6 a.m.to 9 p.m.Parking: $5 on weekends, $4 on weekdays.Barrier-free slide