silentcorner

I think I’ve found a new definition for the “Challenge” in Challenge Park Extreme (CPX) in Joliet. The “challenge” they apparently have to run their park well. I’ve been to CPX several times since I first went there for the Spplat Attack scenario game, which overall went relatively well except for all the air problems they had (they had serious problems providing compressed air.) Most of the times I’ve been there since then have been decent but they were days that attendance was reasonably low.

Well, yesterday was Veterans day, so entry was free, and with all the kids off from school that day, a few hundred people showed up. I’m not sure even thay many military/ex-military showed up, it seemed like mostly kids. But then again, the people entering the military these days pretty much look like kids to me anymore.

Anyway, I went with a friend and his kid, and between 11am and 5pm, we managed to get in three, THREE, games. Between waiting in line to get into the park, trying to buy a part (a simple feeder bolt) for my tippmann marker (their pro shop seems to have downsized since the last time I was there which means I ended up renting for the day,) and trying to get onto fields, we spent a considerable more amount of time standing around waiting then actually playing. And I was not impressed with the refs’ handling of the games. A lot of “wiping” was going on. It sucks when you shoot someone five times and they are still standing there shooting back at you. At least I got a little fun in during city wars where they put everyone at the park on two teams and let them run at each other. But at the end of the day, it was hardly worth taking the day off for and spending the money on the paint.

I think CPX is moving down my list to a visit infrequently park, which is a shame because I had such high hopes for it when it originally opened. It still is at least resonabley good for going solo (I don’t have many paintball buddies… as in almost none except for the once-a-year variety) because there are always open games, but outside of that, it’s really losing it’s appeal, especially when they have any size crowd there, as managing large crowds seems to be their downfall. Time to visit and revisit some other parks. These are times when I really wish I owned a nice sized plot of land so I could open up my own park.