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Kids in Saskatoon can get a break from the heat a day earlier than planned this year.
The City of Saskatoon said in a news release this week that warm weather in recent days means all 23 button-activated spray pads will be open on May 31, instead of June 1 as originally scheduled.
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The spray pads will be operating daily from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Spray pads near schools are programmed to turn off five minutes before recess and lunch breaks begin, with service resuming five minutes after the breaks end. Shut-off times vary depending on school schedules.
Pets are not permitted on any public playground, including spray pads.
The city is starting a project this year to improve spray pads and make them more efficient at conserving water. The project — which runs until 2027 — will see nozzles upgraded and remote controllers added to all of the city’s spray pads in order to improve efficiency, while shade structures, water fountains and misting stations will be installed at six of the pads and paddling pool locations.
“The project builds on the success of two pilot projects conducted in 2023 and 2024 that helped save 25-40 per cent of baseline water use and associated costs by upgrading existing nozzles in some spray pads with lower-flow and misting nozzles while maintaining 100% of the fun,” the city said in the release.
Paddling pools are set to open in July.
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