CALGARY – The newly renovated Prairie Winds Spray Park reopened to the public on Wednesday.
The water park has been completely redesigned with a grassland theme, and is the first of its kind in North America, according to the City of Calgary.
It has water features that are shaped like different kinds of grasses and flowers, as well as insects.
The City of Calgary’s Park Director says the spray park was at the end of its lifecycle and in need of upgrades and improvements to meet today’s health, safety and accessibility standards.
“The original spray park was built in 1990, the same year Prairie Winds Park opened to the public. So after 25 years of service to Calgarians, it was time to give it a face lift,” says Anne Charlton.
The lifecycle upgrades and improvements to the spray park were made possible with funding from the Council-created Community Investment Fund (CIF).
It’s estimated that over 100,000 people from the area use the park, as well as others who drive to the facility.
“On a beautiful, sunny Saturday, up to over 2,000 people, including children and their families, can be seen in the wading pool/spray park area at any given time,” says Ward 5 Councillor Ray Jones.
The new design saves on water use and energy, thanks to a new holding tank and treatment system.
In addition, the City of Calgary says water is only activated after a child turns on the sprays by pushing a button.
“The new spray pad is 10 times larger than the previous one, but it will use the same amount of water as before,” says Charlton. “The new system has its own dedicated and enclosed water treatment system, with UV disinfection capabilities for added protection.”
The Prairie Winds Spray Park will be open until September 14th – depending on the weather.
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