OLDS — The splash park should be ready to go whenever pandemic restrictions allow that, town officials say.
It’s just not clear when that may be.
Right now, the splash park remains closed, as the town follows COVID-19 restrictions set in place by Alberta Health Services. For more information, check out the town’s website at www.olds.ca/covid-19.
“Like we have done with all of our facilities during the COVID that we are preparing them to be able to opened if we are allowed to do so,” community services director Doug Wagstaff told council.
“Unfortunately, at this point in time, spray parks which classify as outdoor pools, splash parks and such, are not allowed to be open. They’re one of the restricted activities."
Coun. Wanda Blatz sparked that conversation. She had asked when the splash park will be up and running, given that temperatures are now starting to getting warmer.
She suggested that a notice of some kind be put on the town’s website so people know the status of the splash park.
"We’ve already readied that communication. We were waiting until the appropriate time to see how things unfold and not be too premature with that announcement,” Wagstaff said.
Operations director Scott Chant said Peter Herzog, the town’s facilities technician, is getting everything ready so the splash park can reopen when the time is right.
“It shut down in good shape last year, so at this time, Peter has not advised of anything that’s majorly out of whack that would need to be addressed,” Chant said.
“There were some new fixtures that were purchased because of some vandalism over the winter time. He has those in hand. Everything that we know of he has within his grasp to do it fairly quickly.
“Even some of the items that we said last fall -- you know, an electrical gear and stuff like that – he has replacement parts for them here. They are here on-site; he can change it in a matter of 20 minutes, not a couple of days.”
Blatz was happy to hear that.
"Please extend thanks from all of us to Peter. He does an excellent job with facility maintenance and it’s great to see that," she said.
