Splashing around
With the hot weather looking like it’s here to stay into the weekend, Wychavon District Council is inviting people to come and cool off in its water play fountains.
The free-to-enter water play fountains can be found in Abbey Park in Evesham and the Abbey Park in Pershore, and there is also a smaller free-to-use play fountain just outside the Droitwich Spa lido complex.
With both the Abbey Park water play fountains being set in an attractive area with seats and rubber safety surfacing, water from the mains supply is pumped through underground pipes and sent upwards in a variety of feature fountains and sprays, which are great fun to use to cool down on a hot day.
Children or adults can operate the fountains by standing on pressure pads set within the floor surface.
The whole system is operated by automatic electronic control, which turns the water on at 10am and off at 6pm each day.
Councillor Emma Stokes, portfolio holder for the environment at Wychavon District Council, said: “The water play areas in our parks really are perfect for families to splash around in and somewhere to cool off, especially with the kind of weather we’ve been having lately. And our award-winning parks are the perfect backdrop for a picnic too, so families really can spend the whole day in one of our parks just enjoying some quality time together out in the fresh air.”
There are no changing rooms on site at the Abbey Park or Droitwich water play fountains, so visitors should bring plenty of towels and a change of clothes with them, just as they would for a trip to the beach. Young babies will need waterproof pants over their nappies, and flat shoes must be worn in the area so the surface is not damaged.
The water fountains are great fun for all ages and abilities with easy access for wheelchairs.
If you want to check before you travel that the water play fountains are open, check on our website at www.wychavon.gov.uk/water-play-fountains, follow us on Twitter www.twitter.com/wychavon or telephone 01386 565000.
Public toilets are located at all three parks – go to www.wychavon.gov.uk/public-toilets to see what kinds of facilities are available.
If people fancy an outdoors swim, then they could head to the Droitwich Spa lido, which has been acknowledged as the most family friendly lido by Waitrose magazine.
Droitwich Spa lido is perfect for the entire family, boasting a wet play area with fountains (these are not the same as the free-to-use ones just outside the lido complex) and water cannons, as well as the brand new Hetty’s Café. Visit www.riversfitness.co.uk for opening hours, timetables and season ticket information.