Latest news with #waterplay
BBC News
4 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Leamington Spa Splash pads closed with 'great sadness'
A new splash park in Leamington Spa, which had only been open for two weeks following refurbishment work, has been closed by the local council with "great sadness". The paddling pool, at Victoria Park in the town centre, has been shut due to a "range of technical issues", Warwick District Council said. It means families in Warwickshire and Coventry have been left with no public water play areas for children, with a new development in Warwick's St Nicholas Park yet to open, and a space in Coventry closed due to a mechanical failure.A Warwick District Council spokesperson said it was "working hard with the contractors to fix the issues". The splash park had reopened after revamp work in July. It was previously earmarked for refurbishment as part of a council project, alongside the park in council said it had been forced to close the site with "immediate effect", and officers "do not expect" the site to reopen for the rest of the school summer holidays. In Warwick, the council is facing ongoing challenges with the project due to the "more complex nature" of the is not yet known when the paddling pool will open. A sign was also put on the gate surrounding a splash park in Coventry's War Memorial Park by the city council stating that the area would be permanently closed. However the council said the attraction was only closed for the "foreseeable" and it was exploring options for its future, saying no decision had yet been the Leamington Spa closure, Warwick District Council said: "The council understands the disappointment that this will cause especially given the fine weather and is working hard with the contractors to fix the issues." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Future unclear for Coventry splash park shut by mechanical fault
A sign on the railings at a popular water play area has claimed it will be permanently closed but its future in fact remains and Play in Coventry's War Memorial Park closed more than a year ago due to a fault in the pump City Council previously said the feature, which was installed in 2004, would reopen in time for the school summer the wording of the sign, the authority said the attraction was only closed for the "foreseeable" and it was exploring options for it future, reiterating no decision had yet been taken. A spokesperson added: "In the meantime, there is still lots of fun for families to enjoy at our wonderful park."A woman at the park, who has two children axed six and nine, told BBC CWR the feature hadn't been open properly in the past so its closure hadn't made "much difference"."They were opening it the odd half an hour here and there... and it was never really publicised when it would be open and when it wouldn't be," she woman added: "It's just a shame for the children really isn't it, especially on a nice warm day like today." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
The Sun
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
The best free water attractions in UK cities for kids to cool down in the heat – from Cardiff to London
MANY UK cities may not be near the beach, but lots do offer free places for kids to have a splash and cool down in the hot weather. Here's a list of the top free water attractions in cities across the country. 5 London When it comes to the capital, there are many places to play in water or have a dip - despite it being nowhere near the coast. One such location is Kensington Memorial Park - which is home to a number of different activities including a water play area. Open every day from 10am to 6pm, children can splash about in a number of different water features. Alternatively head to Jeppe Hein 'Appearing Rooms' on the Southbank. This destination features a number of shooting jets, that essentially create 'rooms' for a couple of seconds before they then disappear. The water feature was designed by the Danish Artist Jeppe Hein and originally was commissioned for the garden of Villa Manin in Italy. Similarly, fountains can also be found in Elephant and Castle and in Granary Square, King's Cross. Over in Greenwich Park playground, there is a water and sand play feature to explore, with slides too. London is home to a number of free paddling pools and splash parks, like in Clissold Park, Ruskin Park and Nyatt's Field. Derby Markeaton Park has a paddling pool located within the Mundy Place Centre and is free to use. The pool was also recently resurfaced and is open daily through the summer from 10:30am to 4pm. In the wider park area, there are a number of other things to explore like woodland trails and a tree house trek high ropes course. Birmingham Whilst not by the sea, Birmingham does have a pop-up beach for the summer, until the end of August. The beach is free to enter and is open each day from 12pm. There are also a number of funfair rides at the beach spot, all costing £3.50 or less. Deckchairs are also available for free. Manchester Located just outside the city is Stamford Park, which features rows of water fountains for children to play in. In total, there are 29 jets that make the shape of a leaf. The fountains are switched on each day between 11am and 5:45pm. The public can also take part in paddle-boarding sessions at the park, or have a spin on a pedalo. Chester Located on the banks of the River Dee, Sandy Lane Aqua Park boasts free outdoor water play for children throughout the summer. The park has 10 water features including sprinklers, jet sprays, tipping buckets, and a geyser squirter. The water play area is open from May to September. Just opposite, is also a play area for families to explore. Norwich Heading to Norwich, families can find a water play area at Waterloo Park Splash Pad. The Splash Pad itself is set within the play park, which has 75 features for children aged between zero and 12-years-old. Some of the different features include a rope swing and a sensory den and dome. Brighton Whilst Brighton does have the beach you can head to, there is also a popular seafront pool in the seaside city. Kings Road Paddling Pool was recently repaired in time for the summer holidays and is located close to the West Pier. The paddling pool itself is large and shallow - making it a great place to allow little ones to explore the water but under supervision. Also in Brighton, is The Level - a set of water fountains open each day between 10am and 1pm and 2pm and 6pm. 5 Cambridge Located in the historic city of Cambridge is Lammas Land - a popular park about half a mile from the city centre. Here visitors can find a large play area with a pool, great for shallow water play. Also in Cambridge is another paddling pool and splashpad at Coleridge Recreation Ground. Whilst the splashpad is currently closed, the paddling pool is still open and is fenced off to provide a safe area to play. There are also other facilities in the park including a tennis court, football field and table tennis. Cherry Hinton Hall also has a water play area in its grounds, with two paddling pools. Both pools have a maximum depth of 40cm and there is also a picnic area close-by. Oxford Over in Oxford, a new splash park opened in April at Hinksey Park. The new water play area features a splash pad with jets and fountains. The splash park is free to use and will be open everyday until the end of summer. Hinksey Park also has a large outdoor swimming pool, play area, tennis courts, a lake and grassy areas. Reading Located in Reading, Woodford Park Paddling pool is suitable for children aged five and over. It is free for public use during the summer months and is usually open between 11am and 6pm. Portsmouth In Portsmouth you'll find Hilsea Jubilee Splash Pool, which is an open-access pool area for children aged eight and under. The destination has two shallow pools - no deeper than five inches - and many play features. There is a free car park at the site too. Cardiff Located in Cardiff 's Grade 2 historic Victoria Park, the Splashpad play area has 33 features including sprays, jets, a tipping water bucket and tunnel. The park also has beach volleyball, tennis courts and a little kiosk serving refreshments. The Splashpad is open on weekdays between 11am and 6:45pm and at weekends between 10am and 6:45pm. Nottingham The Embankment Children's Paddling Pool in Nottingham was recently restored with modern features. The pool was originally built 1928 and is open daily from 10am to 6pm. Free lidos across the UK Blackpill Lido in Swansea: Located in Swansea, this lido is free for all visitors and does not require booking. It also features a children's play area, paddling pool, climbing rock, and picnic area. Shoalstone Seawater Pool in Brixham, Devon: This 53-metre seawater pool is a free alternative to traditional lidos and is one of the few remaining tidal pools in the country. It's set within The English Riviera UNESCO Global Geopark. Bude Sea Pool in Cornwall: A semi-natural tidal pool on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Bude Sea Pool is also free for all to use. Hampstead Heath Paddling Pools in London: Hampstead Heath Paddling Pools reopened on May 24 and include a shallow pool ideal for young children. Stoke Park Paddling Pool in Guildford: This is another large, free paddling pool option and also has wheelchair access. All the lidos in the UK have also been mapped and there are ones with water slides, cocktail bars and some are even free to enter. Plus, one of the UK's best seaside towns is set to get new tidal lido on the beach. 5
CTV News
02-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Waterslide at Winnipeg community centre wading pool removed
The Dakota Community Centre's waterplay park is pictured without its waterslide on June 29, 2025. (CTV News) A waterslide at a Winnipeg community centre has been removed. In a statement, the City of Winnipeg said it recently completed a project at the Dakota Community Centre's waterplay park that involved repairs to the wading pool and removal of the waterslide due to accessibility issues. The city said it knows this removal will be disappointing to some people but noted that new spray features have been added that will provide 'new water play opportunities and foster an atmosphere of inclusion.' According to the city's website, wading pools will open for the season on a staggered basis beginning on July 1. CTV News has reached out to the city to find out about the new features at the wading pool.
The Sun
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
I bought splash pads from Temu and TikTok Shop for £9.99 to find the biggest for my kids – there was a clear winner
WHEN summer comes around, all most kids want to do is play in the sun - preferably with water involved. A mum has revealed she bought two splash pads from Temu and TikTok shop for her kids to compare, and one was a clear winner. 4 Kassie shared how the Temu pad cost £10 and the TikTok shop one cost £9.99, so they were similar prices to compare. However, they were very different in size. On her @_kassieg account, the mum shared: 'Temu one cost £10, my mum got it and expected it to be bigger and that is what we got. 'TikTok shop [product] cost £9.99 with free delivery and is bloody massive!! 'That is bloody huge, and that is a bargain for a tenner. 'Definitely your sign to get your hands on one for your children this summer!' According to the TikTok shop, their large yellow splash mat is 168cm and designed for two to three children. Bear in mind, it is designed for kids aged five to 14 and there is a 100kg weight limit on it. It is also multi-purpose and can be used as a sand pit, ball pit or as a small pool or sprinkler pad. Your pets can also make the most of it during the heat, and cool off from the sun. Mum shares the £64.99 paddling pool that won't leave you puffed out blowing it up & it's perfect for the warm weather You simply need to inflate the pad and connect the valve to your garden hose to enjoy the sprinkler effect. To change the height of the sprinkles, you can increase or decrease the water pressure at the top. Kassie explained: 'It's great, the edge just fills with water then sprays out the holes.' Many of us have experienced the annoyance of a paddling pool or splash pad ripping so you can no longer use it. 4 Thankfully the TikTok shop product comes with a 7 x 7 cm repair patch so you can restore it to working correctly if a tear occurs. The description reads: 'Kids will love playing with water especially on a hot summer day, this will be an ideal gift for kids.' Many people were impressed with the £9.99 bargain and said they wanted to turn their own gardens into a water wonderland. One said: 'Wow such a bargain.' A second added: 'wow!! that's so good for the price!!!'
