Spray pads open: Splash at your own risk
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 02/06/2020 (1423 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Spray pads opened throughout Winnipeg on Wednesday — but the City cautioned to splash at your own risk.
The spray pads won’t have hand sanitizer nearby or be sanitized over night.
Huruy Geberslasie said he doesn’t have a problem using the spray pads. He sat at a table and watched his seven-year-old son and twin 4-year-old daughters play in the water at the Central Park spray pad.
“It’s very awesome,” said Geberslasie. “I’m enjoying this with my kids. When I saw them, when they are playing, even for me I’m enjoying it and I’m very happy.”
The City said people must follow social distancing guidelines and if they are experiencing any COVID symptoms they should stay home.
Geberslasie said it’s nice for him and his kids to get out of the house. He works as a taxi driver but hasn’t worked during the pandemic, so he’s been isolating at home with his children. With the city in phase two of reopening, he makes sure his kids always remember to practice social distancing.
“At home we give them an orientation every time about COVID and also about social distance,” said Geberslasie. “When they get back inside at home, they must wash by hand sanitizer and soap. They know, those kids know everything.”
By early afternoon, 13 kids were splashing around, running through water and spraying each other with the pad’s built-in water gun.
“The people here I know them, we all know each other, and we live around this area. That’s why I like this time in the afternoon,” he said.
Geberslasie said more people are out in the evenings and they seem to forget to keep their social distance, so he doesn’t like taking his kids out during that time.
The City said all bathrooms and changing rooms at spray pads will remain closed, but Geberslasie said those restrictions won’t keep him at home. He said his kids ask to go outside every day, so he plans to use the facilities as much as he can.
The City opened 18 of 21 spray pads on Wednesday and they will be open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Old Ex and St. James Assiniboia Centennial spray pads remain closed and are being used as COVID-19 testing facilities, while the Shaughnessy location hasn’t been cleared to open due to necessary maintenance.
kellen.taniguchi@freepress.mb.ca
