Spray parks within the City of Nanaimo are turning on ahead of the May long weekend, with the weather finally cooperating. (File Photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

splish splash

Water flowing this weekend at Nanaimo spray parks

May 20, 2022 | 10:07 AM

NANAIMO — It’s a sure sign summer is finally here.

City of Nanaimo crews are turning on their spray parks on Saturday, May 21, with water flowing from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day until sometime in the fall, with the specific end of season contingent on weather.

Charlotte Davis, city parks operations manager, told NanaimoNewsNOW the facilities are a staples of summer in Nanaimo.

“These facilities are extremely popular. We do know they get packed out on summer days and we’re very excited that we’ve got some good weather forecasts for this long weekend.”

Nanaimo has three main spray parks: Harewood Centennial Park, Deverill Square Park and Departure Bay Kiwanis Park.

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A smaller spray park feature is also switching on at Mansfield Park on Cadogan St. near Townsite Rd.

Davis said at all the facilities, the water is not recycled in a bid to prevent germs transferring.

“It goes down the drain, it’s the most sanitary way and all water parks handle their water in that way, it’s a health requirement.”

Crews were on scene earlier in the week testing the facilities and ensuring they are operating at peak efficiency.

They’ve also recently completed some repainting of equipment at Harewood Centennial Park, while a repaving and repainting at Mansfield Park was done late last year.

They were in high demand during last summer’s heat dome event where temperatures hovered in the mid to high 30’s, and even crossed the 40-degree mark.

Davis said they would only close the water parks should the City of Nanaimo go to stage four water restrictions, which didn’t happen last year.

She added water misting devices will be installed at some Nanaimo parks further into the summer when the weather demands it.

The City of Parksville opened the taps on their spray park next to the Lions Ventureland Playground on May 15.

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