Wet and wild

Just wait until the weather warms up a bit, the new splash park in Westville is there to cool you down

On the warmest day (so far) of June, people flocked to the opening of Westville’s splash pad.

The town officially turned on the water for the park on June 1 and it just so happen to be the day when temperatures soared in the high 20s. Since that time, the mercury has dropped again, but have no fear Pictou County residents, because the splash pad is remaining open for next few months.

Town CAO Kelly Rice said the splash pad was a hopping place on June 1 and the town is anticipating a busier summer. Located in Acadia Park, the Westville Rotary Club fundraised for the pad in honour of the park’s 20th anniversary which it helped establish. The splash pad includes about 20 features including water cannons, rings and cattails. It has different sections for teens, families and toddlers so people of all ages can enjoy it and will also be wheelchair accessible.

The water is turned on when someone touches a button and the town is in the process of posting rules and regulations for the area. There will also be contact numbers listed on the signs in case people run into issues at the park or want to report some activity they believe needs a closer look by town officials.

Rice said the park will be monitored regularly by town staff. The pad’s hours of operation for June will be 10:30 am. to 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. for July and August. It will be operational seven days a week for these three months and the hours have yet to be determined for September.

Last year, the park opened in late August but unseasonably warm temperatures in September allowed it to remain open until the last week of the month.

SUEANN MUSICK/THE NEWS Westville’s splash pad is officially open for business seven days a week. The park will operate during certain hours from June to the end of August. Its hours will be determined at a later time in September based on the weather.