After a lengthy delay caused by a shipment issue, the Kinsmen Regal Heights Spray Park is now temporarily open.
Even though the bulk of the warm season has passed, children can still make use of the park for one last stretch before school starts up again after the Labour Day long weekend. This is thanks to the City of Moose Jaw announcing their plan to keep the spray park open despite the season being technically concluded.
The reason for the extension is to allow residents to enjoy the new spray park that was scheduled to be open earlier this summer.
The city is still waiting for the arrival of two feature spray components, but the park is operational, and the missing parts do not pose any safety or other operational concerns. One is a 13-foot moose figure, and the other is a maypole that will be installed in the centre portion of the pad.
These remaining components are expected to arrive and be installed before winter.
There will be a grand opening once the final parts are installed, but due to the season being officially at an end, the ceremony will be delayed until next spring at a date to be announced. Sandra Stewart, chairperson for the Northwest Community Association, said the grand opening event will feature something fun for everyone in attendance and plans are still underway.
The spray park has been constructed thanks to a generous financial contribution from both the Northwest Community Association and the Kinsmen Club of Moose Jaw, who together raised $125,000 towards the new park.
“On behalf of the Northwest Community Association, I am pleased to see the spray park open and being enjoyed before the season ends. We’re hoping that the remaining components can be installed before the snow flies,” said Stewart.
The park also features a new pathway for wheelchair access and a wheelchair accessible picnic table to better enhance the park’s inclusivity. To provide shade and room for seating, two new gazebos were built this summer as well as new benches and picnic tables.
One local resident visiting the park did not want to be named, but said she saw the park being used steadily, and that her children are quite excited about having a new spray park close by. Children in the area can now walk to the nearby spray park, rather than having to be driven across town.
The city’s other spray parks including the 1996 Summer Games Park, Elgin Park, Co-op Community East End Park, Crescent Park, and Kinsmen West Park will continue to operate until Tuesday, Sept. 5. Their hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until closing for the season.
The Kinsmen Regal Heights Spray Park will be kept open daily from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sept. 11, 2023, the park will be closed for the season.
The new Kinsmen Regal Heights Spray Park is located in the park by the 7-Eleven at 1210 Thirteenth Avenue Northwest and is next to the existing playground equipment.
