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With temperatures in Saskatoon reaching above the 30 C mark all week, the city has decided to open its spray pads two days earlier than scheduled, and extend their hours.
The city said the move to open the spray pads on Wednesday rather than Friday is part of its extreme heat response plan. The city’s 22 spray pads will also be open for an extra two hours in the evenings, meaning the pads will be operating from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m. each day. The extended hours will run until Sunday, after which the pads will close at their usual time at 8 p.m.
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Spray pads located on school grounds will not be activated during recess and lunch breaks, the city noted, and those shut-off times may vary depending on individual school schedules. The spray pad at Ernest Lindner Park will not open this season, as it is being upgraded, while the openings of the spray pads at Brighton Core Park and Thorton Park will be delayed due to repair work.
The city is currently in the middle of a project to upgrade its spray pads, adding remote controls and new nozzles in order to use water more efficiently, while also adding more shade, water fountains and misting stations at spray pads and paddling pools “to provide extra relief from the heat.”
The upgrade project, which is expected to wrap up next year, is funded by a $700,000 grant from the federal government and Federation of Canadian Municipalities, “as well as a $950,000 Green Loan, to be paid back with water bill savings.”
“This project builds on successful pilot programs in 2023 and 2024, which helped cut water use by 25-40% without taking away any of the fun,” the city said in a statement.
“By switching to lower-flow and misting nozzles, we’re making our spray pads more sustainable while keeping them just as enjoyable!”
A list of Saskatoon’s spray pad locations can be found on the city’s website.
