This year’s weekly pop-up spray parks in Red Deer were more popular than ever before.
This upcoming Thursday will be 2022’s final pop-up spray park, where the city, Red Deer Emergency Services, Municipal Policing Services and RCMP travel to different neighbourhoods and help residents beat the heat.
“The events have been very well attended. We’re very pleased with the turnout from each event,” said RDES deputy chief Tyler Pelke.
“The weather, as I think everybody’s noticed, has been a huge contributor to its success. Obviously it’s been very hot in the evenings.”
Two of the eight planned pop-up spray parks were cancelled due to the weather this year: July 7’s event at Barry Wilson Elementary sSchool and Aug. 4’s at Kentwood Park.
“That’s been a change compared to years past. We’ve had some rainy days on Thursdays at times, but it’s been a tremendous success this year,” Pelke said, adding he would estimate hundreds of people have attended most of the events.
These pop-up spray parks were first introduced in 2019.
“It’s slowly grown in popularity and has slowly grown in public knowledge,” said Pelke.
“There was lots of great interest that first year, but that year we had some weather challenges. … Coming out of COVID, especially this summer, people are able to get outdoors and enjoy this.”
The pop-up spray parks have also provided an opportunity for RDES, municipal policing and RCMP to connect with each other and the community, he said.
“We all come together and engage with the community – we’ve had great interactions with the kids and their parents.”
All of the events are scheduled for an hour and a half, which gives families plenty of time to enjoy the pop-up spray parks, Pelke noted.
“Some people can’t get there right when they start, but they can get there an hour later … to enjoy the last half-hour.”
The final pop-up spray park will be held at Johnstone Park, at Jordan Parkway and Jennings Crescent. The event will run from 6:30-8 p.m.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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