Kamloops council says no to temporary spray park at Riverside Park

When Kamloops city council learned the spray park rebuild at Riverside Park wouldn't be finished this year, councillor Mike O'Reilly suggested staff find a temporary option.

City staff found a temporary, $40,000 spray park option for locals and tourists who want to beat the heat and brought it to council today, July 19.

"This isn't an ideal situation, but this is a stop-gap measure that's going to provide cooling options for kids throughout Kamloops," Coun. O'Reilly said.

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Parks manager Jeff Putnam said it could be finished within three weeks since the rebuild of the current spray park was delayed until fall.

Councillor Denis Walsh suggested simply a hose and a fine mist would be sufficient if the City was really in need of cooling people at the park, which already has a beach on the river.

"We don't need to spend $40,000 just to wet people," he said.

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Mayor Christian agreed saying that using a sprinkler system on the grass is enough for kids to run through the water on hot days.

The permanent spray park is part of a multi-million project that includes a widened pathway and flood prevention at the beloved downtown park.

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Councillors Dale Bass, Arjun Singh and Mike O'Reilly were in favour of the temporary spray park, but they were outnumbered.

There will be no spray park for kids at Riverside Park this year.

Should families decide they'd prefer to take children to a spray park rather than the Riverside Park beach, there are still four others throughout the city.

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