Rob Bliss reveals weekend waterslide

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Grand Rapids events guru Rob Bliss on Tuesday revealed the 500-foot inflatable waterslide that will be set up on Lyon Street this weekend.

The world's largest waterslide, which will serve as the centerpiece to his latest event, was on display at Hidden Ridge RV Resort in Hopkins.

"(It's) breathtaking," 12-year-old Noah Beyer said. "It's really long."

Bliss expects about 30,000 people to show up for the free event from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, in which Lyon Street will shut down near Bostwick Avenue and GRCC to accommodate the waterslide.

"Yeah, it's something that people are just going to have to come out and see for themselves to really appreciate the length of it," Bliss said. "It really is nearly two football fields long, which is pretty enormous."

People who want to attend are encouraged to bring just a bathing suit and towel. However, anyone shorter than 48 inches will not be able to ride, for safety reasons.

The cost of the event is about $48,000, according to GRNow.com, and about 20 sponsors are on board to help finance the weekend.

In addition, several items will be on sale, including a $30 pass to skip the line and a $10 'I Rode the Lyon St. Waterslide!' T-shirt.

The cost includes overtime for police officers and security; the slide, permits and insurance. It's a major undertaking to close off a street, officials said.

"Lord knows it's not easy at all," said Todd Tofferi, of the city of Grand Rapids. "But with enough planning and enough time to coordinate city services to make sure everybody that is going to be affected by it is notified, we can usually work things out."

The slide, built by World Wide Inflatable in California, weighs almost four tons. The durable soft vinyl is blown up with 12 fans pumping in 15,000 cubic feet of air per minute. It's managed locally by ACP Entertainment, of Byron Center.

ACP puts safety first, a representative said. When the slide is stretched out down Lyon Street, there will be four operators at all times, along with supervisors and around-the-clock security.

"It's very safe," said Ryan Strayhorn, of ACP Entertainment. "When you're riding down the slide, you're not going to be riding on the cement. You're on an inflatable bed, so it's very nice and comfortable."

The city encourages people to use area parking garages and available street parking.

Bliss is the man behind several big events in town, from sidewalk chalk to zombie walks and paper airplanes at the 2009 ArtPrize competition.

He is also a WOOD TV 8 employee but the station is not associated with his events.