BRINGING SPRAY PLAY TO THE COMMUNITY

Wading Pool Conversions Possible at University, Sladden, Monroe and State Street Parks

What is Spray Play? Think of your front yard sprinkler but on a larger scale and with a billion times the fun factor. Spray play is a new concept in water play that has no standing water, so it does not require chemical treatment, recirculating systems, or a lifeguard. Whereas the existing wading pools are only in use during the weekdays while the City’s summer Fun-For-All program is in operation, the spray play features can be activated by the push of a button 7 days a week during park hours.

Why not just keep our wading pools? Recent health and safety regulations required that our aging wading pools either be retrofitted with cost prohibitive recirculating systems, new drains and be chemically treated or that they be closed after the summer of 2009. Even after a costly rebuild, the hours of operation and play factor would still be limited. Fortunately, we have an opportunity to convert the former wading pools to interactive spray play parks. An example of this conversion completed at Fairmount Park in 2009 where the Eugene Parks Foundation assisted the neighborhood group with just such an endeavor. The Washington Park Spray Play is underway and we hope to bring spray play to the rest of the community in the coming years. Defunct wading pools are in the following parks:

• University Park - Located at E. 24th Ave. & University St.
• Sladden Park – Located at N. Adams St. & Cheshire
• Monroe Park - Located at 10th Ave. & Monroe St.
• State Street Park – Located at Dakota St. & Burnett St.

To learn more about this exciting project contact Eugene Parks Foundation Board member, Denise Sorom at denisesorom@yahoo.com