It's another sure sign that summer is almost here -- the water should be flowing at all of the municipally-run splash pads across Chatham-Kent this weekend.
In the past, the splash pad opening dates have been staggered and varied from community-to-community in the municipality, but Chatham-Kent council voted in favour of changing that last summer after Ward 6 councillor Brock McGregor asked for a review of the operating seasons.
The splash pad operating season will now be consistent across the board and will make access "more equitable" according to a report from CK Parks and Recreation staff that went to the municipal council in July 2023.
The municipally-run splash pads are set to stay open for sixteen weeks, shutting down for the year after the Labour Day long weekend, weather permitting.
Extending the operating seasons for the splash pads in the municipality was expected to add an additional $22,323 to the annual operating costs.
The splash pads at Blenheim’s Talbot Trail Place and Merlin’s Kinsmen Park are independently operated, and their opening dates may differ.
Splash pad locations set to open on Saturday, May 18 include:
Optimist Park, 356 Oak Street, Bothwell
Kingston Park, 91 Paxton Drive, Chatham
Kinsmen Community Park, 760 Tecumseh Street, Dresden
Mitchell’s Bay Beach Park, 5 Main Street, Mitchell’s Bay
Kiwanis Park, 5 George St., Ridgetown
Ferguson Park, 32 Wallace Street, Thamesville
**Knights of Columbus Park, 49 Bond Avenue, Tilbury
Colwell Park, 300 Running Creek Drive, Wallaceburg
Jaycee Park, Larkwood Street, Wallaceburg (splash toy)
**Wheatley Area Recreation Complex, 196 Erie Street North, Wheatley
**Splash pads in Tilbury and Wheatley will remain closed until the localized Boil Water Advisory has been lifted.