Buffaloe Road Aquatics Center turns up rave reviews, some tender toes

I've gotten two reports of some bleeding toes after visits to the new Buffaloe Road Aquatics Center, which opened last week in Raleigh.

"The place is awesome! The only downside was there are several children reporting in for band-aids due to bleeding toes. The kids bop around on their toes through out the lazy river, whirl pool, and volley ball area...and they are getting blisters. Once you have a band-aid..you can't get back in to the pool. We went Friday and today. They said you can wear water shoes in the pool, but not on the slide..so all was good for us. We LOVE this place," wrote colliehut.

A few hours later, nheadley00 shared: "Interesting to hear my little one was not the only one that ended up with blistered, bleeding toes. He played in the tot area for a few hours but no longer than we would spend at our pool over the summer. Wonder what it is about this surface that is causing this? Looking for some water shoes now because he definitely wants to go back soon. Great facility other than this strange problem."

I checked in with Terri Stroupe, the city's aquatics director, who said staff is aware of the issue and has made at least one change. Here's what she wrote me in an email:

"We have noticed that some children, especially if they spend more than two hours in the water, are rubbing some tender spots on their feet. We do think that this is because they are playing hard and the water is softening their skin. We have started doing periodic rest breaks for kids and think that will help. Water shoes will also help with this."

But, the water shoes do need to be removed if a child wants to go down the water slide, she added.

The center at 5908 Buffaloe Rd. opened a week ago and includes a three-story water slide, current channel, vortex and tot play area.