Beating the heat: Regina spray parks have kids keeping cool

Some classrooms were empty Thursday as kids stopped their studies and headed out to the spray park.

Some Grant Road School elementary students were keeping cool at the Al Ritchie Spray Park in Regina. From a block away, kids’ squeals could be heard as they ran through the water.

Many students were excited to be out of class and out in the sunshine.

“I like running around in the water and I also like hanging out with my friends,” said Dylan Martins.

There were about 200 students, teachers and chaperones running around at the park and keeping cool. A yard full of kids running between the spray park, the playground and the soccer field had more than enough excitement to keep them occupied.

At the spray park, Janna snuck up on her friend and tossed a water balloon on her.

“Our class came here, and I found a water balloon and filled it up and just started splashing people,” Janna said with a giggle.

The spray park being the main attraction of the day had screaming kids running through high water jets shooting into the air. Many were enthralled by the purple dragon in the centre of the park that shoots water out of its mouth.

Zeenia said there are a few things everyone must do when they come to the spray park.

“Go on the slides, go on the swing, and I love everything at the waterpark,” Zeenia said.

If there were any complaints, Zeenia said the slide was not fast enough.

While school is almost out for the summer, some of the kids said they had so much fun that they wanted to go back to spend the hot days shooting each other with the water cannon.

“I like the pool a lot, but the splash park is just a little bit better,” Anson Lundiy said when asked which place he would rather go to keep cool.

Many students have big plans for the summer.

“Go on the slide and on the monkey bars … do some tricks … go to the beach or go somewhere with my friends,” Maryam said.

Yousef thought the setup for the day was perfect with lots of things to do.

“(I like) pretty much everything on the field like soccer and everything at the park also,” he said.

When he got too hot playing soccer, he would run underneath a water jet, then straight back to the field to kick the ball into the net.

If kids weren’t keeping cool under one of the water jets, chances are they were hanging out in the shade to keep cool.

Across the lawn a few students opted to keep cool in the shade. According to them it can be too hot sometimes.

“It’s really, really hot,” said Alehah Fink. “I just wish it’s a bit more cold so I don’t have to go into the water every time I get burned.”

Many were just excited that summer was finally here.

“I like summer because it’s nice and warm and you get to go into the spray park,” Sophie Shires said with a grin.