City of St. John’s working to get splash pads open

Coun. Danny Breen said plan is for July 2 start

The City of St. John’s splash pads at Bowring Park and Bannerman Park would be a great way to beat the heat, but Coun. Danny Breen says they’re not ready to go just yet.

The city does not normally open the outdoor water recreation facilities before July and won’t be able to simply turn on the taps and get going, no matter how much it’s desired in the midst of the current heat wave.

“It’s a very beautiful day out and it certainly would have been nice for them to be open today, but we are working on getting them open as quickly as we can,” Breen said during Monday night’s council meeting.

The councillor said the city had received inquiries as to why the splash pads weren’t available. He said there are checks of the facilities required and water testing that has to be completed, including chemical testing, to be sure they are safe for users.